Globally we are seeing a wide range of pressures and challenges to national, regional, and international public policies, including rising social and economic inequalities and climate change. This course delves into the critical challenges faced in International Public Policy by systematically examining and differentiating key areas and issues. It does so by taking a deep dive into key policy areas of contemporary international public policy through critical discussions of empirical examples.
The module engages empirically and theoretically with contemporary international public policies, equipping students with skills the enable them to apply their knowledge on ‘real life’ public policy issues. You will get a structured overview and critical discussion of the primary domains where international and national public policy agendas intersect and evolve and critically analysis variations in international policy responses. Specific areas of public policy covered include climate change and environmental issues, demographic changes including ageing societies, health, social security, migration policy, social and political exclusion and urban versus rural policies.
On the module you will enhance your employability by gaining knowledge about how various policy sectors grapple with transformative political, environmental and socio-economic processes their responses to these challenges will differ based on a range of internal and external socio-economic and political factors.
Lecture 8, Seminar 16, Workshop 8
International Social Policy MA Two year Master's in International Social Policy MA Optional module for other SSPSSR taught MAs
1,500 words Review and Reflection at 30%
4,000 words Essay at 70%
Reassessment Method: Like-for-like
Clasen, J. (1999) Comparative Social Policy: Concepts, Theories and Methods Oxford: Blackwell Cochrane, A.
Clarke, J.
Gewirtz, S. (2002) Comparing Welfare States 2nd Edition Open University Press & Sage. Cousins, M. (2005) European Welfare States, Sage Pub. Esping-Andersen, G. (1999) Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Giddens, A. (2007) Europe in the Global Age, Polity Press, Cambridge. Hall, P.A. and Soskice, D. (eds) (2001) Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional foundations of comparative advantage, Oxford University Press. Hill, M. (2006) Social Policy in the Modern World, Blackwell Publishing Leibfried, S. and Pierson, P. (eds) (1995) European Social Policy: Between Fragmentation and Integration, Brookings Institute, Washington. Pestieau, P. (2006) The Welfare State in the European Union Oxford University Press Powell, M: Hewitt, M. (2002) Welfare State and Welfare Change Open University Press. Schierup, C.U.
Hansen, P. & Castles, S. (2006) Migration, Citizenship, and the European Welfare State. A European Dilemma, Oxford University Press Taylor-Gooby, P. (2005) (ed.) Making a European Welfare State? Convergences and conflicts Over European Social Policy Blackwell Pub. Tsoukalis, L. 2005 What Kind of Europe? Oxford University Press,
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
Critically and systematically analyse and assess complex international public policy developments, generally and with in-depth knowledge in key policy areas, using comparative public policy frameworks.
Have a comprehensive and critical understanding of the role of national versus international and supranational institutions when it comes to public policy decision making, policy making and outcomes.
Independently carry out original critical policy analysis of public policies, analysing differences and similarities across key public policy fields and national boundaries with an appreciation of major boundary-spanning and complex policy problems and how they are responded to.
Have a comprehensive and critical understanding of the nature of the political, economic, social and technological issues relevant to comparative public policy, and be able to evaluate their emergence and development.
Understand and have experience applying the different uses for and forms of theory, evidence and argument in international public policy studies
and develop an individual stance on the appropriate application of analytic frameworks.
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