Aims

Gain insight into:
-        the origin and the development of the welfare state and into the challenges that this welfare state is confronted with nowadays as a consequence of a number of fundamental social transformations. The welfare state is defined as a whole of institutions and instruments that is build around the functions care (care for the young, the elder, people with a handicap,...), insuring (social security), uplifting (through education, labour market...) and connecting (poor and rich, young and old, autochtons and immigrants...)
-         into the sociological thinking (concepts, theories, empirical research) on the welfare state and social policy
-         and learn how to work with databases that allow to research the welfare state and social policy in an empirical way.

Previous knowledge

Basic knowledge of the courses: 'Society: facts and issues' (BA1), 'Current society diagnosis' (BA2) and 'Social Policy' (BA3).

Content

Substantially this course contains two large parts:
The first party, that is primarily theoretical, includes six chapters. The first gives a description of the welfare state and social policy and the manner in which these were and are studied by sociology and other disciplines. The second chapter deals with the genesis of the welfare state. This includes the sociological paradigms that were developed in the last decennia. In the different countries the development of the welfare state has lead to great differences. This has lead to different typologies and an instructive debate on the so called 'welfare regimes', a debate that is dealt with in chapter three. Chapter four focuses on the relation between the welfare state and the late/high modernity, reflexive modernity, post industrial society ... It illustrates the many challenges the welfare state is confronted with because of the social developments of the last decennia. This includes the shift in the relations between generations, in the relations between men and women in the family and in society, in the labour process and the labour organization; to processes of globalization and individualization. Chapters five and six shift the focus from the macro to the meso/micro level. Like this, chapter five studies the different dimensions (who?, what?, how?, financing) of social policy and the diverse choice alternatives that every dimension has further in depth. Finally, chapter six deals with the issues of implementation of social political measures.
The second part is more aimed at policy. It focuses on two questions: (1) to what extent the welfare fulfils state the four functions mentioned above, (2) Is that care, insurance, uplifting and connection sufficient, given the external and internal challenges we are facing today and in the future?
  

Course material

Articles and literature
Syllabus
Slides, transparencies, courseware
Toledo / e-platform

Is also included in other courses

• Preparatory Programme: Master of Sociology 24 ects.
• Preparatory Programme: Master of Science in Sociology 36 ects.
• Preparatory Programme: Master of Sociology 42 ects.
• Bridging Programme: Master of Sociology 65 ects.
• Master of Educational Sciences (being phased out as from 2011-2012) (Major: Schooling and Instructional Sciences) 120 ects.
• Preparatory Programme: Master of Social Work (KU Leuven in cooperation with other institutions) 77 ects.
• Bachelor of Laws (Programme being phased out as of 2012-2013) (General Option) 180 ects.
• Bachelor of Political and Social Sciences (Major Subject: Sociology) 180 ects.
• Bachelor of Philosophy (Option: Sociology) 180 ects.
• Master of Educational Studies (programme being phased out as from 2012-2013) 60 ects.
• Bridging Programme: Master of Health Care Management and Policy 61 ects.
• Bridging Programme: Master of Social Work (KU Leuven in cooperation with other institutions) 58 ects.
• Bachelor of Laws (HUB) (General Option) 180 ects.
• Bachelor of Laws (New Enrolments as from 2012-2013) (General Option) 180 ects.