Introduction to social and public policy (II)

Students have basic knowledge on social problems and public policy. The course is a continuation "Introduction to social policy I"

The second part of the two-semester course. Scope: key social policy theories and selected specific social policies, national traditions and “social policy regimes”. Key issues: descriptive theories of social policy (what is social policy, how should its functioning be analysed); explanatory theories (where the differences between social policy systems come from); normative theories (how actions taken in the field of social policy should be assessed on the axiological level); selected detailed social policies exemplifying the discussed theoretical issues.

I) Reasons for social policy

- needs

- equality, justice and liberty

- where market fails

II) Diversity of social policy

- social policy regimes

- ideologies and resources

- explanations of legacies' diversity: convergences and divergences

III) Social policy instruments

- benefits and services

- universal and targeted provision; universalism and selectivity

- universal measures, social insurance and social assistance

- need and means-testing

- welfare generosity and its measurement

- commodification and de-comodification

- sanctions in welfare provision

- individualization, activation, co-production

- multi-sectoral approach, welfare-mix

- implementation, governance and street-level bureaucracy

Béland, D., Morgan, K. J., Obinger, H., & Pierson, C. (Eds.). (2021). The Oxford handbook of the welfare state. Oxford University Press.

Spicker, P. (2014). Social policy: Theory and practice. Bristol: Policy Press.

Fitzpatrick, T. (2001). Welfare theory. Introduction. Palgrave

The student knows and understands at an advanced level - the characteristics of the sciences of politics and administration, in particular - the sub-disciplines: social policy and public policy against the background of the field of social sciences (K_W01)

The student knows and understands at an advanced level - the course of the political process at various institutional levels, especially in the field of diagnosing needs and resources, planning, implementing and evaluating social programs (K_W03)

The student knows and understands at an advanced level the ways in which social and political institutions operate in specific areas of social and public policy, with particular emphasis on: education, public health, social assistance, housing, labor market, social security, family policy, migration and integration policy (K_W05)

The student knows and understands at an advanced level selected theories conceptualizing the relationship between the elements of the political process, characteristic of the sciences of politics and administration - especially for the subdiscipline of social policy and public policy (K_W06)

The student is able to precisely identify the economic, social, economic and cultural determinants of specific social phenomena and apply approaches and theories in the interpretation of detailed relationships between phenomena (K_U03)

1) Active participation in in-class meetings (comments and interventions based on assigned reading) - no more than 2 absences. Excessive absences need to be made up with during instructor's office hours

2) 5 pgs long essay: own critical analysis of assigned reading (theme of the essay constructed to prevent illegitimate AI usage)

not applicable