The Welfare State and Social Protection (21075)

Year: 2nd
Term: 2nd
Number of ECTS credits: 6
Student hours: 150 

Syllabus

-Background information: this course takes a comparative approach so that students learn how similar policies are put into practice and produce totally different results depending on the context of the welfare state regime in which they are applied.

-Course typology and focus: the course aims to provide students with the basic concepts relating to social welfare schemes, as well as the legal tools for protecting groups at risk of social exclusion.

The course is taught through lectures and seminars in which texts are analysed and/or problems relating to the covering of situations of need which students may come across in practice are solved.

- Key aspects of the course: the course is divided into parts: the first analyses social welfare regimes in the most developed countries, as well as inequality structure, social exclusion and crime. In the second part the configuration of social law in the European context is described, with special attention paid to the case of Spain. The constitutional system of social protection and the social protection of groups at risk of social exclusion are analysed in particular.

- General recommendations: students must attend lectures, read the texts recommended by teaching staff and participate in seminars.

I.- Socio-economic part

Contents section 1. Social welfare regimes in the most developed countries

1.1.- Historical introduction to the origin and development of social policy

1.2.-The concept of the welfare regime and regime typologies

1.3.-The major aspects of social protection: right of access and nature of the services

1.4.- The major aspects of socio-labour policies: the job market, education, health, housing, social services and minimum income guarantee.

 

Contents section 2. Crime, criminal policy and welfare regimes.

 2.1.- Inequality structure, social exclusion and crime.

2.2.- Prison and reinsertion policies and welfare regimes: case studies.

 

II.- Legal part

Contents section 3. The Spanish constitutional social protection system in the European Union legal framework

3.1.- The Spanish social security system in the context of the European Union

3.2.- The constitutional social security model: the main informers of the Spanish social security system

3.3.- Cover for situations of need: special reference to unemployment cover

3.4.- Social security and social assistance: state and Autonomous Community powers

3.5.- The attention system for people in situations of dependency

 

Contents section 4. Social protection for groups at risk of social exclusion

4.1.- Social protection of prisoners

4.2.- Social protection of released prisoners

4.3.- Social protection of immigrants

4.4.- Social protection of crime victims. Special attention to women who are the victims of domestic violence