230103 SE Welfare States and Social Change (2011W)

This course deals with the relationship between welfare-state development and social change. We will explore how societal changes affect welfare states and how welfare states react to societal changes, in particular to changes in gender relationships, family, and population dynamics (`new social risks`). The main focus will be on European welfare states and European countries in a comparative perspective.

The course consists of three main parts: First, we will discuss the main theoretical concepts of welfare states and their foundations to gain insight into essential aspects of the structures, the institutional dynamics, and ideological orientations of welfare states. Second, we will look at social changes, in particular in gender relationships, family forms, and population dynamics during the past decades to assess to what extent these changes may affect European welfare states. Third, we will explore how welfare states have responded to social changes and will discuss the differences in welfare-state responses across Europe. We will furthermore discuss issues regarding the investigation and the assessment of welfare-state changes, social changes, and the relationship between them.

A detailed outline of the course and the reading list will be provided in the first session. Copies of the required reading will be available in a course folder in the library. The course will be held in English.

Grading: The grade will consist of three components:

(a) participation and contribution to the discussion in class

(b) critical assessment and presentation of literature in class and comments on the assessment and presentation of literature by fellow participants

(c) seminar paper

A detailed overview of the requirements for a grade and the grading scheme will also be provided in the first session.