Unit name | Social Policy and the Welfare State: Theoretical Perspectives |
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Unit code | SPOL10012 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Eroglu-Hawksworth |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The unit provides an introduction to the major theories and ideologies that have influenced social policy and welfare provision since the 19th century with a particular focus on the UK. It is organised into three main parts. The first part outlines the classical ideologies of welfare, i.e. conservatism, liberalism and socialism, and their most influential offshoots. The second part demonstrates how these ideas have influenced social policy and welfare provision in Britain since World War II. The third part presents a range of theoretical perspectives, such as Marxist, gerontologist, feminist, anti-racist and post-modernist, that provide a critique of the welfare state. The unit concludes with a discussion of the future of the welfare state in the wake of the recent financial crisis that has led to austerity measures.
Students will:
Lectures and seminars
Assessment will be against the programme criteria defined for the appropriate level.
Formative assessment: One essay up to 2000 words
Summative assessment : One essay up to 2500 words