1. Code
SFS10606

2. Name & ECTS credits
Comparative Welfare Models, 10 ECTS

3. Category
The course is optional in the bachelor's degree programme Society, Language and Culture.

4. Prerequisites

5. Semester
Spring, 2nd semester.

6. Objectives
The course gives an introduction to the nature of welfare models as these have developed in the Western liberal democracies. Students shall acquire:
- insight into the scholarly debate on the development and survival of welfare states
- elementary knowledge on comparative method, and how researchers compare welfare regimes
- insight into the debate on the development of Western welfare regimes where concepts such as state, market, family and civil society forms the basis of different forms of welfare models.

The course shall introduce students to the core concept of 'welfare' and insight into the creation of welfare states as political entities, and as structural conditions for the establishment of democratic governance in the Western world.  The students shall acquire an understanding of the different welfare models as these are reflected in the relationship between state, market and civil society.

7. Contents

The course introduces the development of the welfare state in some OECD countries, with emphasis on what has been termed the "Nordic Model" where the relationship between the state, the market and party politics constitute central bargaining arenas with regard to the distribution and redistribution of welfare. The politics of welfare is seen as part of the development of citizenship whereby the relationship between the state and the citizen has gone through different phases. The course aims at highlighting different challenges to the survival and maintenance of the welfare state in response to calls for privatization in the public sector and the external impetus of globalization on national states. The forces of privatization and globalization pose challenges to the state's capabilities in securing social welfare at the national level, and the course seeks to highlight these challenges in different countries and from different theoretical perspectives. 

8. Organisation and teaching
The course is organized as a series of lectures. In addition there are seminars/ workshops where subjects and papers related to the course themes are presented by students and discussed. The library will be involved in providing basic help regarding the use of internet based encyclopedias, and in the search for the literature needed when writing the course essay.

The language of instruction is English.

9. Work placement/internship
None.

10. Mandatory assignments
Compulsory participation in seminars / workshops (80 per cent). Presentation of different models of social security / welfare systems, or the subject which the student chooses as theme for course essay.

11. Final assessment
The student is expected to write an essay (12 - 15 pages) about a subject which the student chooses related to the politics of welfare. The student is expected to present a list of literature that is used in the essay. Each student has the opportunity to have 2 hours of individual instruction by the lecturer in relation with writing the essay.

Assessment is given on the A-F scale.

12. Required reading
Main book is: Cochrane, A, Clarke, J. and Gewirtz, S. (2001): Comparing Welfare States, second edition, London: Sage (appr. 300 pages). In addition, a compendium with selected articles is also required reading. The compendium is sold at INDEX (the bookshop at the university college). Required reading: 800 pages. In addition each student is required to present 200 pages optional reading.

Changes in the curriculum can occur. Students will be informed thereof at the start of the semester.

Lecturer: Rania Maktabi