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POL20280

Academic Year 2025/2026

Politics of the Welfare State (POL20280)

Subject:
Politics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Karen Anderson
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides and overview of the political origins and development of welfare states
in democratic countries. Topics covered include the varieties and tasks of modern welfare
states; classic theories about the relationship between markets, classes, and social protection;
competing explanations for why modern welfare states emerge and why they differ from one
another; how welfare states are shaped by social forces such as organized labor and the self-
employed, political institutions, and societal views of appropriate gender relationships;
challenges to the welfare state that emerge from changing labour market, demographic, and
social conditions in industrialised countries; and the political dynamics of reforms to the
welfare state.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to:
*understand how and why countries differ in the structure of their welfare states and why this
matters;
*understand the core political, economic and social functions of contemporary welfare states
*identify and analyse challenges to contemporary welfare states
*evaluate and apply influential political science theories of welfare state development

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Autonomous Student Learning

103
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Interactive lectures
Peer-to-peer learning through discussion groups
Critical refelction and writing through essays
Autonomous student learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Final Exam End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Mid-term essay Week 7 Graded No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

In line with university policy, students will be provided with feedback within 20 working days of the deadline for submitting the assignment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
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