SP200     
Comparative and International Social Policy

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Youngcho Lee

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in International Social and Public Policy, BSc in International Social and Public Policy and Economics and BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

This course is only available to students who have completed Understanding International Social and Public Policy (SP100).

Course content

The course introduces the comparative method in social policy research as well as the main analytical approaches to understanding social policy developments in high income countries. By examining the interaction between social policy, employment and families, it explores how and why different countries pursue different paths and how this may be changing.

The course also examines social policy in middle- and low-income countries and explores the forces shaping both how policy problems are perceived and the impact of key international and supranational institutions on social policymaking in different areas of the world.

Teaching

All teaching will be in accordance with the LSE Academic Code (https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/lse-academic-code) which specifies a "minimum of two hours taught contact time per week when the course is running in the Autumn Term (AT) and/or Winter Term (WT)". Social Policy courses are predominantly taught through a combination of in-person lectures and in-person classes/seminars. Further information will be provided by the Course Convenor in the first lecture of the course.

This course is taught in both AT & WT.

Formative coursework

Students are expected to submit three pieces of formative written work throughout the academic year and are expected to read for and prepare contributions to class discussion each week.

Indicative reading

P Beramendi, S Häusermann, H Kitschelt & H Kriesi (eds) (2015) The Politics of Advanced Capitalism

D Béland, S Leibfried, KJ Morgan, H Obinger & C Pierson (eds) (2022) The Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State, 2nd edition

B Deacon (2007) Global Social Policy and Governance

I Gough & G Wood (eds) (2004) Insecurity and Welfare Regimes in Asia, Africa and Latin America

A Hemerijck (ed) (2017) The Uses of Social Investment

J Lewis (2009) Work-Family Balance, Gender and Policy

N Yeates & C Holden (eds) (2022) Understanding Global Social Policy, 3rd edition

Assessment

Online assessment (100%) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: Social Policy

Total students 2022/23: 41

Average class size 2022/23: 14

Capped 2022/23: Yes (45)

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (MT & LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.