Course Materials



Sample Undergraduate Course

Dr. Reinhard Heinisch
E-mail: heinisch+@pitt.edu
http://www.pitt.edu/~heinisch



SEMINAR: WELFARE STATES IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
3 Credits - Upper Level



OVERVIEW

The end of what has been dubbed the "golden age of the world economy" has brought enormous challenges to the welfare systems established in Western Europe. Governments have been trying to deal simultaneously with increased needs and shrinking resources. Traditional welfare states are confronted with new distribution coalitions that view the entrenched social system as an outdated obstacle to global competitiveness. Furthermore, Western societies are increasingly characterized by greater social fragmentation and individualism, coupled with a heightened sense of anxiety and insecurity. In addition, the process of European integration has created unforeseen constraints and opportunities for the national and supra-national social policy. How do European political systems cope with these challenges?



OBJECTIVES

Contrary to the widespread American perception that European welfare policy falls into one broad category, loosely labeled "socialized", "socialist" or "state-run," this course means to demonstrate the astonishing variety of policy-approaches, institutions and reform attempts found in Western Europe. The course first introduces students to the underlying philosophical conceptions and discusses different ideological positions on welfare policy. It then traces the evolution of the three different welfare regimes -- liberal, social democratic, corporatist. Subsequently, five distinctive European welfare models are discussed:

  • The Catholic/Corporatist Social Insurance Model: Germany;
  • The Red-Green Coalition and the Liberal Social Model: Sweden;
  • From the Poor House to Beveridge and beyond:The British Model;
  • State-Centered Models and State-Paternalism: France and Italy;
  • Post-Authoritarian Welfare Late Comers: Spain and Greece;

The final part of the course will be devoted exclusively to the question of how European integration is shaping national-level and supra-national social policy.



COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • The students are expected to attend and participate in class regularly.
  • Students will be called upon regularly to discuss the reading materials.
  • Students will be asked to provide 3 of 5 written reviews of the materials.
  • Students will take two exams during the term and a commutative final.



MAIN TEXTS

Vic George and Peter Taylor-Gooby (1996): European Welfare Policy. (G&TG)
Gosta Esping-Andrsen (1990) The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, Princeton University Press
Course Pack with selected materials (CP)


COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK 1:

Introduction, Lectures:
(1) Ideological Basis: This section examines the major political ideologies as the philosophical foundations of 20th century social policy. This will include Liberalism, Utilitarianism, Marxism/Social Democracy, Conservatism and their relationship to democracy, public policy and the welfare state.
Reading: excerpts from standard introductions to political ideologies.


WEEK 2:

The Conservative Tradition;
Reading: as above


WEEK 3: ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE.

(2) Studying the Welfare State: This section examines the conceptualizations and approaches important in studying social policies. This includes specifically Esping-Andersen's regime type approach.
Reading: Esping-Andersen pp.1-34.


WEEK 4:

(3) The Crisis and Problems of the Modern Welfare State. This section will provide and overview of normative, economic and demographic challenges to modern welfare systems.
Reading: "Attack on the WfS" in: Alex Wadden (1997) The Politics of Social Welfare. Cheltham UH. Edward Elgar: pp.26-51;
G&TG: Ch1 "The Future of the Welfare State."


WEEK 5: EXAM I

(4) Case Studies: This section introduces a series of country cases. We shall examine the specifics of welfare policy in each of the following nation states. The German Welfare System: Germany has been a pioneer of welfare policy since the Bismarck era. Many countries have copied the German national/social insurance system and adopted similar pay-as-you-go systems. Important concepts: social cohesion, stability, corporatism, market organization, stratification.
Reading: G&TG, Ch2.pp 31-50.


WEEK 6: ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE

Sweden the social democratic-liberal model. Important concepts: Red-Green Coalition, labor market flexibility, currency devaluations. The Swedish model has been the quint-essential welfare state in the world. Its cradle to grave social system has been a great model to some and has been much criticized by others. Currently it is undergoing it biggest restructuring since its inception.
Britain: From Beveridge to Thatcher and Blair.
Reading: G&TG, Ch4.pp 72-94, Ch5.pp 95-116.


WEEK 7: ASSIGNMENT 3 DUE

France: State-Centered Paternalism. This case will examine strongly state-centered welfare model. Key concept: state-transfer system.
Italy: A different Statist model. Key concept: North-South gulf, regional disparity.
Reading: G&TG, Ch3. pp. 51-71; Ch6. 117-135.


WEEK 8:

Greece: Between Tradition and Modernization. These cases will examine welfare late comers between tradition and modernity.
Spain: Post-Authoritarian Welfare States.
Reading: G&TG, Ch7. pp.136-154; Ch8. 155-176.


WEEK 9: EXAM II

This portion of the course will discuss national policy level challenges, reforms and the demand for welfare. It will also provide comparisons and conclusions on the country case studies.
Reading: G&TG, Ch9. pp.177-198; Ch10. 199-219.


WEEK 10: ASSIGNMENT 4

(5) Social Policy in the European Union. We begin by discussing theories of integration and policy making in the EU.
Reading: excerpts from Michael Kluth (1998) The Political Economy of a Social Europe: Understanding Labor Market Integration in the EU; pp.1-99.
Leibfried&Pierson (ed.) European Social Policy pp. 1-40.


WEEK 11:

Social Policy in the European Union Interactions between the EU and member states.
Theoretical Issues: multi tier systems, joined decision traps.
Reading: excerpts from Paul Teague (1999) Economic Citizenship; pp. 137-165.
Gerda Falkner (1998) EU Social Policy in the 1999's; pp.55-155.


WEEK 12: ASSIGNMENT 5

Social Policy in the European Union. Interactions between the EU and member states: Regulatory policies and implications for the social dialogue.
Reading: Gerda Falkner (1998) EU Social Policy in the 1999's; pp.56-155.
Leibfried&Pierson (ed.) European Social Policy; pp. 43-78.


WEEK 13:

Social Policy in the European Union. Interactions between the EU and member states.
The Role of gender and regional inequalities, education.
Reading: Kari Matti (1998) Meeting with EU Social Policy/New Member States; pp.19-50.
Excerpts from: Affichard, Hantrais, Schultheis (1998) The Social Situation of Member States (review).
European Commission (1998) From Guidelines to Action; Employment to Social Affairs.


WEEK 14:

Comparing European and US - Welfare and Economic Policies
Reading: Excerpts from standard textbooks on American Political Process/public policy, welfare policy, welfare reform.



TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS

  1. The German Welfare System: Germany has been a pioneer of welfare policy since the Bismarck era. Many countries have copied the German national/social insurance system and adopted similar pay-as-you-go systems. Important concepts: social cohesion, stability, market organization, stratification.

  2. United States: This will serve as a comparison - see course pack rear

  3. Sweden the social democratic-liberal model. Important concepts: Red-Green Coalition, labor market flexibility, currency devaluations. The Swedish model has been the quint-essential welfare state in the world. Its cradle to grave social system has been a great model to some and has been much criticized by others. Currently it is undergoing it biggest restructuring since its inception.

  4. Britain: From Beveridge to Thatcher and Blair. Britain is an example of (low) universal benefits.

  5. France: State-Centered Paternalism. This case will examine strongly state-centered welfare model. Key concept: state-transfer system.

  6. Italy: A different Statist model. Key concept: North-South gulf, regional disparity

  7. Spain: Post-Authoritarian Welfare States.

  8. Greece: Between Tradition and Modernization. These cases will examine welfare late comers between tradition and modernity.

  9. History of European Social Policy - The Social Dialogue from Rome through Amsterdam. What are, were the main actors in the European social dialogue? Given an overview of the development of the EU social policy from Rome to Amsterdam -- what were the milestones and big ideas? Which strategies did they pursue? When and how did the narrowly defined social provision in the Rome treaty become social policies. What were the original social issues and to what extent was the scope extended? When did social policy become a binding goal of the European Community/Union? What were the active/direct ways (directives, court cases) in which the EC shaped the social agenda of member states, what were the negative/indirect ways (preemptions, pressures) in which this was taking place? What were the changes brought on by the SEA and the TEU, especially, the social charter/protocol.

  10. The social policy making under the social protocol. How does the policy process work (Green Paper/White Paper>Proposal>directive/regulation). What was the role of the Commission, the EP, and the Council? What was the role of the courts and of the European social partners? How are labor market issues (developing the single currency/single market) linked to the social dialogue? What is meant by a European social citizenship and how/where is it enshrined? How are member states, especially new members impacted by the social dialogue?

  11. Specific Benefits and Programs -- Regional Development. How are regional development and social policy linked? What is the role of the ESF? What are some of the specific programs, action plans and guidelines. How do these impact member states? How do member states respond to decisions by the EU. Do we find evidence of competitive state building? What is the verdict of experts?

  12. How are economic regulation, competition and internal market reforms linked to the issue of welfare policies at the European and national level? How do issues such as democracy, sovereignty, popular choice factor into the EU social dialogue? Is it democratic or simply the tyranny of experts? How can it be justified? In what ways do the imperatives of economic efficiency conflict with the imperatives of sovereignty/democracy and the normative preference for social justice and protection. How can these issues be reconciled?

  13. Focusing once again on the single market, how does monetary union affect national social policies? Does European integration strengthen, weaken social policy at the national level from the perspective of the citizen, respectively, does European integration protect member states from globalization and the neo-liberal resurgence? Does European integration compound the effects of globalization, or are the two developments unrelated? How does globalization affect public policy -- what hypotheses does the literature offer? Is the European model/way of life under siege by "American Super Capitalism."



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - WELFARE POLICY:

  1. What are some of the misconceptions that people have about the history and evolution of welfare policy?

  2. What are the causes/origin of the modern welfare state?

  3. How are Liberalism and Capitalism related to Welfare (Policy)?

  4. What is the relationship between Marxism and Welfare (Policy)?



SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT - WELFARE POLICY:

  1. What is the legacy of the classical economy? What is the relationship between capitalism and democracy?

  2. How have welfare states been defined/conceptualized in the past? And what were the problems with these approaches?

  3. What is Esping-Andersen's re-specification of the Welfare State? Which criteria does she introduce and how does she measure/define welfare states?

  4. Which welfare regimes does Esping-Andersen discern, what are their characteristics and what is their evolution?



SAMPLE TEST - WELFARE STATE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

  1. What were factors in the development of the following welfare systems and what are its most important characteristics? >> France, Germany, Sweden, Britain:

  2. By comparing the social system across countries, analyze how the following important social benefits are provided in the above country cases: >>> health care, unemployment, old age pension, family (or child) assistance. Please identify whether the benefits are subject to means testing, based on contributions and/or provided as service by the government, etc.

  3. What would you say are the biggest problems facing insurance types (contribution based/pay as you go) welfare systems and what are the biggest shortcomings of a Beveridge type/service system?

  4. When comparing all of the following cases (France, Germany, Sweden, Britain, Italy, Greece and Spain), how would you group and classify these systems. In short, which ones have similar characteristics and belong together, how many different groups would you establish and which criteria would you use to make your classification? Note that you do not have to describe each system in detail here but you do need to justify why you assign a particular country to a particular group or category.