DECO 27A11 - Comparative Political Economy of the Welfare State

The welfare state is a central topic of study in the political science sub-discipline known as political economy, which studies the interaction between states and markets. The development of the welfare state has been part of the nation building process of modern Western countries, giving rise to new forms of citizenship. While the welfare state has become a crucial element of Western societies, it is also one of the most contested issues in advanced capitalist democracies today. The course will cover major areas within contemporary research on the welfare state, including the development of the different types of welfare states found among advanced industrialized nations, the complex interaction between states and markets that is at the core of all re-distributive politics, the gender aspects of welfare politics, and the politics of reforming the welfare state.

none

Students are expected to read and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings.

Assessment is based on:

• 20% Group presentation
• 30% Book review (1500 words)
• 50% Final paper (take-home essay) (2000 words excluding bibliography)

Late penalty: 1 point off per day.