Dr Timo Fleckenstein OLD.2.60

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Social Policy, BSc in Social Policy and Economics, BSc in Social Policy and Sociology and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is not available to General Course students.

This course is available to students on other degrees who have completed Foundations of Social Policy (SA100).

The course introduces the comparative method in social policy research as well as the main analytical approaches to understanding social policy developments. It provides an overview of social policies in different areas of the world and enables students to identify global pressures on national policy environments. The course also examines the impact of key international and supranational institutions on social policy-making. It investigates the welfare and work nexus from a comparative perspective.

10 hours of lectures and 13 hours and 30 minutes of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of classes in the ST.

Students are expected to submit one piece of non-assessed written work and are expected to read for and prepare contributions to class discussion each week.

K Armingeon & G Bonoli (Eds), The Politics of Post-Industrial Welfare States (2006); F Castles, The Future of the Welfare State (2004); J Clasen, Reforming European Welfare States (2004); B Deacon, Global Social Policy and Governance (2007); I Gough & G Wood (Eds), Insecurity and Welfare Regimes in Asia, Africa and Latin America (2004); L Hantrais, Social Policy in the European Union (2007); J Lewis, Work-Family Balance, Gender and Policy (2009); P Taylor-Gooby (Ed), New Risks, New Welfare (2005).

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the summer exam period.