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Semester 2

Party Politics and Welfare States in Democratic Capitalism (SCPL10041)

Subject

Social Policy

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed at least 3 Social Policy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Please see Additional Restrictions below.

Course Summary

The course aims to analyse the relationship between party politics and welfare states in democratic capitalism: How does party politics shape the welfare state and capitalist development? And how does the welfare state and capitalist development shape party politics? In addressing these overarching questions, the course takes a comparative-historical approach, with a particular focus on the more recent 'populist wave' underpinning party system transformation in the advanced capitalist countries.

Course Description

The course is organised in three parts: In the first part, we draw on Polanyi seminal book "Great Transformation" to discuss the origins and implications of capitalist market expansion, before examining the role of political parties in forming and consolidating European welfare states. The second part reviews different perspectives on the changing relationship between party politics and democratic capitalism after the golden age of the welfare state. The third part engages with the causes and consequences of the more recent populist wave in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the USA. We conclude with a discussion about the role of populist parties in affecting the relationship between capitalism and democracy today.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 85%, Practical Exam 15%

Additional Restrictions

Students cannot take this course alongside Politics of the Welfare State (SCPL08005).

view the timetable and further details for this course