| Detailed information |
| Original study plan |
Master's programme Comparative Social Policy and Welfare 2025W |
| Learning Outcomes |
Competences |
- Students will be able to understand and critically reflect on the institutional characteristics and ideological underpinnings of Liberal welfare and production regimes.
- They will be able to analyse and evaluate the socio-economic origins, institutional designs, and societal consequences of Liberalism both as a political ideology and as an institutional framework.
- They will be able to engage with and critique contemporary debates about the function and significance of liberal values and liberal policy design principles.
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| Skills |
Knowledge |
- Distinguish different strands of Liberalism and the institutional designs they inspire. (k4)
- Analyse the socio-economic origins and consequences of Liberal welfare and production regimes. (k4)
- Identify institutional designs in specific policy fields (k1)
- Evaluate or organisational responses to challenges based on Liberal principles. (k4)
- Critically discuss claims or fears about "liberalisation" or the "erosion of Liberal institutions" using theoretical and empirical evidence. (k5)
- Synthesise insights from theoretical frameworks and empirical case studies to assess the impact of Liberalism in social policy. (k6)
- Design small-scale comparative analyses to explore "varieties of Liberalism" across different geopolitical contexts. (k6)
- Utilise secondary literature, social science data, and generative AI tools to develop evidence-based arguments, ensuring ethical and responsible research practices. (k3)
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- The theoretical and ideological foundations of Liberalism and its application in welfare and production regimes.
- Key academic typologies of Liberal regimes, such as those by Esping-Andersen, Hall, and Soskice, and their relevance for understanding social policy.
- Historical trajectories of Liberal welfare states, particularly the United States, as paradigmatic cases.
- Current challenges and debates surrounding Liberal welfare systems, including critiques from European perspectives.
- The conceptual and empirical tools necessary to analyse and evaluate the promises and pitfalls of Liberal institutional designs.
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| Criteria for evaluation |
Active participation during the Intensive Program and the interactive components of the long-distance phase of the class. Combination of a set of individual assignments or exams and tasks (such as research papers or presentations) to be accomplished in teams.
In the retake-option evaluation is based on a written or oral exam.
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| Methods |
Introductory classroom sessions during the Intensive Program at the beginning of the semester, afterward a combination of individual studies of the relevant literature and interactive elements such as online meetings or teamwork.
The retake option consists of an independent study of a reading list provided by the instructor.
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| Language |
English |
| Study material |
Readings and Assignments are provided by the instructor.
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| Changing subject? |
No |
| Further information |
Students who have received a failing grade, or who wish to retake the course to improve their grade, must declare their intention to retake the course before the next semester so that a retake opportunity can be offered. They will then repeat the course through independent study, studying the literature independently from a specially prepared reading list, and demonstrating their competence in a written or oral examination at the end of the semester. The retake option is not a substitute for the regular course. It is only offered to students who have received a grade in the regular course.
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| Earlier variants |
They also cover the requirements of the curriculum (from - to)
929NSWPLIBK14: KS The Liberal Welfare State (2014W-2020S)
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