Learning outcomes

This course provides students with in-depth knowledge into the actual politics of welfare policy-making in select social policy fields. The focus of attention is on political processes and the political institutions that structure those processes in select social policy fields. The class has an explicitly comparative outlook, examining differences in the political processes across countries.

Contents

Students will observe institutions, organizations, decision-making procedures, and actors “at work”, when they produce social policy decisions, act (or function) within the arenas of their respective political environments, and interact with one another. This will also convey an understanding of the relationship between the various formal institutional setups that exist at national and supranational levels and the actual political dynamics taking place within these frameworks. The course addresses issues of political feasibility, prospects for policy innovation, considerations of the “political cost” of alternative courses of action, possible points of contention over certain social policy issues and the danger of reform gridlock and political stagnation.
The specific policy field or substantive focus of attention of this course is variable. The class will focus either on health policy, or on pension policy, or on disability policy, or on social policy-making in supranational arenas, such as the European Union.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Cumulative grade: 70% final paper and 30% participation in the discussions.

Study materials

Course materials will be provided by the instructor.

Belongs to following study modules