The aim of “Globalisation and Social Policy (Part 1)” is to improve the understanding of key concepts and theories of social policy and social policy analysis in the context of globalisation, including: (a) the institutional, economic and cultural context of social policy, (b) principles of welfare systems and social policies and (c) alternative theoretical approaches to the analysis and the explanation of social problems and of social policies. After attending this course, students will be able to

• describe and analyse key concepts of social policy,
• know and understand main theories of welfare systems and social policies,
• outline the institutional context for social policies and social policy development,
• develop an awareness of the broader context for global social challenges,
• know key dimensions and concepts of globalization
• identify key challenges of globalisation for social policy and the impact social policy has on globalisation,
• articulate and compare alternative approaches to social policy analysis, and
• apply alternative theories and concepts to specific problem sets.

Didactic lectures will be combined with interactive lectures. Class discussion and group work will provide further opportunities to engage in class participation.

Students will be expected to prepare brief input presentations on foundational concepts of social policy (e.g. risk and (social) insurance, asymmetric information, adverse selection, inequality, welfare state typologies), develop and present a group project in oral and written form and develop an individual research proposal.