SPPd0001 Social Policy Theory

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 15 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Sirovátka, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Sirovátka, CSc.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
recommended for two first semesters
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the course is to improve the competences in the theoretical reflection of the key concepts in the theory of the welfare state. In particular the comopetence systematically answer the questions: What is the purpose and functions of social policy in (post)modern society? How the impacts of social policy may be understood?
Learning outcomes
Paper elaborating the theoretical concept (see above)
Syllabus
  • Introductory seminar, explication of the tasks, discussion of the approach Individual consultations Assessment of the paper by teacher Presentation of the task on the seminar
Literature
    required literature
  • Baldwin, P.: The Politics of Social Solidarity. Class Bases of the European Welfare State 1875 - 1975. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge etc. 1990.
  • Pierson Ch. : Beyond the Welfare State. The New Political Economy of Welfare.Cambridge: Polity Press, 1991.
  • Esping -Andersen, G.: The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Polity Press, Cambridge 1990.
  • Heidenheimer, A.J., Flora, P. (eds.): The Development of the Welfare States in Europe and America. Transaction Books, New Brunswick - New Jersey 1981. kap. 1, 2, 11.
  • Offe C. Contradictions of the Welfare State. London, Hutchinson. 1984.
  • Ringen, S: The Possibilty of Politics. Oxford University Press, Oxford 1987. kap. 1, kap. 8.
    recommended literature
  • European Journal of Social Policy. Sage (poslední dva ročníky)
Teaching methods
The task of the students is to elaborate the paper on the topic a) Principles, objectives and functions of the selected social policy intervention/measure within the context of the contemporary developments, or b) Social and economic effectiveness (and efficiency) of the selected social policy intervention
Assessment methods
Submitting the paper, evaluation and recognition by the teacher (consistency in definition of the goal, method, theoretical arguments, conclusions).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/SPPd0001