EVS154 Political Issues and Social Policy in the European Union

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Tue 18:00–19:30 P22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
EVS104 European Integration || MVE102 European Integration || MVZ101 Introduction to Intl. Rel.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course offers students an identification and examination of key political issues in a range of social policy areas within the European Union (EU). Employing relevant concepts, models and theories, these issues will be addressed within the context of EU processes of harmonisation, mutual recognition, convergence and the overall on-going integration project. On successful completion of the course, students shall be able to examine a range of theoretical models and concepts relating to the overall development of the EU, and the process of integration, against the background of the growth in importance of social policy areas in the EU project. Within that framework and process students shall be able to evaluate political issues relating to specific areas of social policy, including those concerning the environment, employment and unemployment, education, the ‘demographic time-bomb’, gender, and immigration and asylum policy. Last but not least, students shall be able to analyze political issues relating to social policy within the EU regional policy arena, and to outline social policy within the context of the politics of the future of the EU.
Syllabus
  • Structure of the course The course will be taught through a series of weekly lectures and workshops. There will be 9 lectures and 2 workshops Course programme: PLEASE NOTE: 90% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 8) is a requirement to pass the course (see Course Assessment on page 3) The powerpoint presentations for each lecture will be placed on the Masaryk University Information System prior to each lecture All lectures and workshops will be held in Room P22 from 18.00 to 19.40 on the following dates: 04.10.11 Lecture 1. The growth in importance of social policy in the European Union project 04.10.11 Lecture 2. The E.U. integration project and the politics of social policy: theoretical perspectives – ‘spillover‘, functionalism, neo-functionalism, federalism 11.10.11 Lecture 3. Harmonisation, mutual recognition, and the europeanisation of social policy. 18.10.11 READING AND WORKSHOP PREPARATION WEEK (no lecture) 25.10.11 Lecture 4. Environment policy 01.11.11 Workshop 1 (see page 2) 08.11.11 Lecture 5. Employment and unemployment policy 15.11.11 Lecture 6. Education and training policy 22.11.11 Lecture 7. Immigration, mobility and asylum policy 29.11.11 Lecture 8. The ‘gender dimension’ and E.U. social policy 29.11.11 Lecture 9. The ‘demographic time bomb’ 06.12.11 Workshop 2 (see page 2) Workshops programme: PLEASE NOTE: a) 100% attendance at the 2 workshops is a requirement to pass the course (see Course Assessment on page 3) b) Students will be expected to have read for each workshop and participate. Indicative readings are given below for each workshop 01.11.11 Workshop 1: This will consist of student participation and discussion groups. Question: Provide examples and reasons why you believe political, social or economic concerns and factors are of most importance for the success of the E.U. integration project? How important in that process is the ‘politics of social policy’, and why? Readings: Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy, 11:2 (various articles of interest) Geyer, R. Exploring European Social Policy, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2000. Hantrais, L. Social Policy in the EU, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2007 (Third edition) (or Second edition, 2000). Kleinman, M. A European Welfare State: European Union Social Policy in context, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2002. McCormick, J. Understanding the European Union (Third Edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2005. Richardson, J. (ed.) European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006, chapters 2,3 and 4 Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001. Room, G. (2007) ‘Challenges facing the E.U.: Scope for a coherent response’, European Societies, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.229-244. Rosamond, B. Theories Of European Integration, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2000 Threlfall, M. (2003) ‘European social integration: harmonization, convergence and the single social area’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13, pp.121-140. 06.12.11 Workshop 2: This will consist of student participation and discussion groups. N.B. In this final workshop here will also be some discussion, and direction offered, in respect of the assessment essay. Question: Is harmonisation, mutual recognition or convergence the best principle upon which European Union social policy should be based? Should such a principle encompass a communitarian or cosmopolitan approach? Provide reasons and evidence for your preference. Readings: Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy, 11:2 (various articles of interest) Geyer, R. Exploring European Social Policy, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2000. Guillen, A. and Palier, B. (2004) ‘Does Europe matter? Accession to EU and social policy developments in recent and new member states’, Journal of European Social Policy, 14:3, pp.203-209, and other articles in this special issue on EU Enlargement, Europeanisation and Social Policy. Hantrais, L. Social Policy in the EU, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2007 (Third edition) (or Second edition, 2000). Jepsen, M. and Pascual, A.S. (2005) ‘The European Social Model: an exercise in deconstruction’, Journal of European Social Policy, 15(3), pp.231-245. Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001. Room, G. (2007) ‘Challenges facing the E.U.: Scope for a coherent response’, European Societies, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.229-244. Sinn, H-W and Ochel, W (2003) ‘Social Union, convergence and migration’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41, pp.869-96. Threlfall, M. (2003) ‘European social integration: harmonization, convergence and the single social area’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13, pp.121-140. Wallace, H. Wallace, W. and Pollack, M. A. Policy Making in the European Union (5th edition), Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005. Texts Students are referred below to a range of journal, book and internet texts. These may be added to within the lectures, and if so, sources will be included within the lecture powerpoint presentations placed on the Information System prior to each lecture. Books Hantrais provides a useful introductory overview, and is useful for a range of E.U. social policy areas covered in the course. Kleinman addresses some broader issues concerning the role of social policy in the E.U. Kleinman (Ch.7) also examines the pressures created for EU social policy by rising levels of unemployment and changes in Labour Market policies. Richardson (Ch.3) examines ‘Europeanisation’, as well as Regions and the E.U. social policy process (Ch.13). Featherstone and Radaelli also examine the politics of ‘Europeanisation‘. Hantrais outlines EU strategies for promoting equal opportunities and gender policies in the social policy arena. Castles considers the importance of ‘family friendly’ policies, particularly useful for gender policy analysis. Castles, F. The Future of the Welfare State, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2004. Featherstone, K. and Radaelli, C. (eds.) The Politics of Europeanization, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2003. Gallie, D. (ed.) Resisting marginalisation: Unemployment experience and social policy in the EU, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2004. Geyer, R. Exploring European Social Policy, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2000. Hantrais, L. Social Policy in the EU, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2007 (Third edition) (or Second edition, 2000). Jones, C. (ed.) New Perspectives on the Welfare State in Europe, London, Routledge, 1993 (especially Liebfried, S. ‘Towards a European Welfare State?’) Jordan, A. and Liefferink, D. (eds.) Environmental Policy in Europe: The Europeanization of National Environmental Policy, London, Routledge, 2004. Kleinman, M. A European Welfare State: European Union Social Policy in context, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2002. McCormick, J. Understanding the European Union (Third Edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2005. Richardson, J. (ed.) European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006. (or Second Edition, 2001) Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001. Rosamond, B. Theories Of European Integration, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2000 Salais, R. and Villeneuve, R. (eds.) Europe and the politics of capabilities, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2004 Schimmelfennig, F. and Sedelmeier, U.. (eds.) The Europeanisation of Central and Eastern Europe, Ithaca NY, Cornell University Press, 2005. Wallace, H. Wallace, W. and Pollack, M. A. Policy Making in the European Union (5th edition), Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005. Journal Articles Aysan, M. F. and Beaujot, R. (2009) ‘Welfare Regimes for Ageing populations: No Single Path for Reform’, Population and Development Review, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp.701-720. Begg, I. and Nectoux, F. (1995) ‘Social protection and economic union’, Journal of European Social Policy, 5, pp.285-302. Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy, 11:2 (various articles of interest) Cunliffe, A. and Wilton, J. (2006) The Development of a European Asylum Policy in an Expanded European Union, Migration Online, May 2006 (www.migrationonline.cz/studies.shtml) Delreux, T. ‘The E.U. negotiates multilateral environmental agreements: explaining the agent’s discretion’, Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 16, No.5, pp.719-737. Guillen, A. and Palier, B. (2004) ‘Does Europe matter? Accession to EU and social policy developments in recent and new member states’, Journal of European Social Policy, 14:3, pp.203-209, and other articles in this special issue on EU Enlargement, Europeanisation and Social Policy. Jepsen, M. and Pascual, A.S. (2005) ‘The European Social Model: an exercise in deconstruction’, Journal of European Social Policy, 15(3), pp.231-245. Kelemen, R. D. (2010) ‘Globalising European Union environment policy’, Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 17, no.3, pp.335-349. Liefferink, D. Arts, B. Kamstra, J. Ooijevaar, J. (2009) ‘Leaders and laggards in environmental policy: a quantitative analysis of domestic policy outputs’, Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 16, No.5, pp.677-700 Mosher, J. and Trubek, D. (2003) ‘Alternative approaches to governance in the EU: EU Social Policy and the European Employment Strategy’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 4:1, pp.63-88. Neilson, J. (1998) ‘Equal opportunities for women in the European Union: success or failure?’, Journal of European Social Policy, 8, pp.64-79. Room, G. (2007) ‘Challenges facing the E.U.: Scope for a coherent response’, European Societies, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.229-244. Sinn, H-W and Ochel, W (2003) ‘Social Union, convergence and migration’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41, pp.869-96. Threlfall, M. (2003) ‘European social integration: harmonization, convergence and the single social area’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13, pp.121-140. Van der Mei (2003) ‘Freedom of movement for the unemployed and co-ordination of unemployment benefit schemes’, European Journal of Social Security, 5:3, pp.214-229. Vobruba, G. (2003) ‘The enlargement crisis of the European Union: limits of the dialectics of integration and expansion’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13 (1), pp.35-48, and responses by M. Bach and M. Rhodes. Walkenhorst, H. (2008) ‘Explaining change in EU education policy’, Journal of European Public Policy, Vol.14, No. 4, June 2008, pp. 567-587. Journals Environmental Politics European Union Politics European Political Science Journal of Common Market Studies Journal of European Social Policy (the ‘European Briefing’ section of this journal is very useful for up-to-date EU developments) Journal of European Public Policy Migration Online (www.migrationonline.cz/studies.shtml) Internet http://www.cec.org.uk http://www.ecsa.org http://europa.eu.int http://ibeurope.eu.int http://www.ieep.org.uk http://www.policylibrary.com John Wilton 11.08.11
Literature
  • Geyer, R. Exploring European Social Policy, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2000.
  • Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy.
  • Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001.
  • MCCORMICK, John. Understanding the European Union : a concise introduction. 5th ed. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, xvi, 247. ISBN 9780230298828. info
  • KLEINMAN, Mark. A european welfare state? :European union social policy in context. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002, ix, 246 s. ISBN 0-333-69892-4. info
  • HANTRAIS, Linda. Social policy in the European union. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000, xiv, 273 s. ISBN 0-333-92008-2. info
Teaching methods
Teaching methods include lectures, workshops and class discussions. Attendance is expected. Students are encouraged to actively participate in class by posing questions of clarification or bringing up problems for discussion. Students are expected to read the required reading(s).
Assessment methods
Course Assessment a) Attendance: 90% attendance at lectures (at least 8) and 100% attendance at the 2 workshops is a requirement to pass this course. b) Essay (maximum 2000 words/6 sides of A4 paper) Deadline: Wednesday 4 January 2012. To be submitted by email or through the Masaryk University Information System Students will be required to submit an essay in answer to one of the questions shown below. The essay must be of a maximum of 2,000 words, be typewritten, fully properly referenced, and include a full bibliography. PLEASE NOTE: Essays that are more than 10 per cent above or below the word limit will be penalised through the deduction of marks (i) Using examples from at least two social policy areas illustrate practically and theoretically how social policy has grown in importance in the European Union integration project. Suggest political, social or economic reasons for that development. (ii) Critically assess whether, in terms of social and political factors and principles, European Union social policy can be characterised as Europeanised. Provide evidence and examples from social policy areas to support your assessment.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Předmět si nezapisují studenti 1. ročníku.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
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