140227 AG Social Protection and Social Policy in Developing Countries (2009S)

Social Policy and Social security have gained increasing importance in development over the last years. While there is meanwhile no doubt that social security and social development play a key role in regard to poverty reduction, there exist a range of different approaches and concepts when it comes to define the concept. What is actually meant when we talk about social security or social protection in developing countries and how can it be realized? Western Approches based of welfarism and modernism are far from being able to capture the complex social and economic realities in which most people in developing countries live, while so-called 'informal' or non-state mechanisms are increasingly eroding.
In this course a basic theoretical understanding of social security and social protection in developing countries shall be developed, as well as recent policy approaches and measures in development cooperation discussed and critically reviewed.