Undergraduate Course: Politics of the Welfare State (SCPL08005)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course looks at the politics of the welfare state in the UK in the light of the dramatic economic events since 2008, including from an international perspective, and in the context of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. The role of ideology, public opinion, political actors, interest groups and the media will be considered in understanding the directions that the British welfare state took in recent years. Specific social policy areas (e.g. education, health, benefits and the labour market, public services) will be discussed in detail and current reforms will be scrutinised. |
| Course description |
The course analyses the ideological and political factors which have shaped the development of the British welfare state in the past and are shaping it in the present. Pivotal is the context of the financial and economic crisis that unfolded in 2008 and the Covid-19 crisis since 2020, which have important repercussions on social policy making. Students will be introduced to key welfare benefits and services, how they are delivered, funded and who benefits from them. The role of public opinion, key political actors, the media and their interplay are critically analysed. While the focus is on the British welfare state, an international and comparative perspective is taken with regards to the role of welfare ideologies, key institutional features, the impact of economic crises and other common contemporary challenges to the welfare state in Europe.
Together with the courses Social Policy and Society, European Social Policy and/or Evidence, Politics and Policy this course will form a coherent introduction to Social Policy, but it can also be taken as a topical outside subject on a stand-alone basis.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
165 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
90 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Tutorial participation = 10%
1 essay of 2000 words = 30%
Take-Home Paper = 60% |
| Feedback |
Students will receive individual feedback prior to writing their final timed assignment, namely comments on the 2000-word essay they submit. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- analyse the ideological and political factors which have shaped the development of the welfare state in the past and are shaping it in the present.
- to understand how the welfare state works, how it is delivered, how it is paid for and who benefits from it.
- identify the current political debate and developments in different social policy areas.
- understand the politics of the British welfare state from an international perspective.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Plus tutorials. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elke Heins
Tel: (0131 6)50 4049
Email: Elke.Heins@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Brodie Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: Brodie.Hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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