Syllabus
Course Title: Enabling State Governance and Social Policy
Course number: JSM742
Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague – Czech Republic
Academic year: From Summer Semester 2021 - 2022
The web page of the course Moodle: Enabling State Governance and Social Policy (Self-enrollment and the Password: ESTAGSOP_2022)
Study programs: MA program Public & Social Policy
Scope of Instruction: 1/1
Credit available: 4
Instructor Information
Guarantor & Teacher
Office Location & Hours
Dr Eddy Bruno Esien, PhD 63878363@fsv.cuni.cz
Prague, Hours, Days
General Information
Content of the course:
This course seeks to acquaint students with major concepts and approaches in the emerging enabling state governance and social policy in Europe. The course focuses on the crucial interface between theory-building and concept formation on the one hand and empirical evidence on the other. The "enabling state governance and social policy" does not only pertain to questions of theoretical explanations and techniques of data analysis. Instead, it defines a subfield of political, sociological, and social policy inquiry, which distinguishes a set of conceptual, substantive, and methodological commitments and a willingness to learn from diversified countries different ways of arranging enabling state governance and social policy fields. Questions of enabling state institutional framework and social policy, narrowly conceived, will also be addressed in this course attempt at outlining the enabling state approach and social policy practical measures (e.g., delivery by private agencies, the cohesion of shared values and civic duties, solidarity, belongings, citizenship, restoring social equity, social inclusion, use of incentives and sanctions, and social cohesion). Broadly we will address the following questions. 1) What is the rationale the enabling state governance and (practical) social policy? 2) How do enabling state governance and social policy arrangements produce theoretical and empirical knowledge about the various framework for social inclusion, participation, and social cohesion? 3) How do the enabling state governance and social policy promote work and belongings, subsidise private activity, targets benefits, maintain social solidarity, reduce poverty, and emphasise individual responsibility etc. in ways that alter the basis of social cohesion of empirical case studies?
Main objectives and learning outcomes
One of the goals of the course is to allow students to gain insight knowledge about enabling state governance and social policy in Europe. Second, to strengthen students’ ability to differentiate enabling state ideal type models and (practical) social policy (measures) for social cohesion. Third, to distinguish enabling state conceptual foundation which rests on social policy for inclusion, participation, and social cohesion. And to recognise the real meaning of social inclusion, the best design of work-oriented measures, the costs, and benefits of contracting for welfare, the targets for the receipts of social benefits, and the maintenance of social solidarity and belongings under social policies driven by enabling state governance. By the end of this course, students will
- construct knowledge and acquire skills to explain the enabling state governance and social policy issues related to inclusion, participation, social cohesion, social protection system, work promotion, poverty reduction etc.
- obtain knowledge and skills to analyse the avenue of the enabling state governance and social policy (such as contracting for welfare, targeting eligibility, use of incentives and sanctions, and cohesion of shared values and civic duties) for social welfare and
- be familiar with the enabling state governance and explanatory approaches within diverse social policy instruments and areas (for instance, public spending, employment policy, social protection, poverty reduction, gender equality, family policy, ageing policy, health policy, disability policy).
To this end, we will read some of the programmatic and conceptual statements about the research program of enabling state governance and social policy analysis. Then, we will look at several theoretical and methodological topics and approaches within the enabling state and social policy field in more detail. Combine with examples of scholarly articles using a different conceptual framework. While analysing these examples, we will explore the enabling state approach and social policy practical measures. In doing so, students will also develop an understanding of quality criteria and the functions of the different components of theoretically oriented studies in enabling state multilevel governance with neoliberal strategies and social (welfare) policy literature (such as the state-of-the-art academic literature review, the theoretical argument and its justification, commentary on research design, presentation of empirical material, and theoretical consideration to students own enabling state governance and social policy research)
Specifically, the class consist of (a) lectures and (b) seminars where students will actively work on topics covered in the recommended literature.
Teaching and Learning Methods
In 1 hour, 20 minutes once in a week lecture/seminar session, students are introduced to the main strands of enabling state approaches and social policy including group work in the seminars. Afterwards, course reading, discussion boards and tutoring supported by e-Learning resources, e-Texts etc. developed via Moodle etc. and individual studies of their theoretical literature and other sources of the course.
Guidance/Communication: During this course, we shall use the Moodle platform for communication, assignments, submission of the final seminar papers, and download of lectures PowerPoint slides and other didactic materials. Check this course moodle password and do the self-enrollment. Otherwise, ask your colleagues or teacher for guidance and support.
Course Schedule
Lectures and Seminars:
Monday, 15:30 – 16:50 room JEPK 211 (2nd Floor) in Pekarska 16 (subway Nove Butovice)
Dates: (21.02.2022; 28.02.2022; 07.03.2022; 14.03.2022; 21.03.2022; 28.03.2022; 04.04.2022; 11.04.2022; 18.04.2022; 25.04.2022; 02.05.2022; and 09.05.2022)
Condition of enrolment:
The course is for students of Czech and English Bachelor`s and master’s degree programs of Public and Social Policy, other study programs, and some Doctoral students of Public and Social Policy programs.
Language:
The course language is English
Study Obligations:
All students are obliged to:
Participate actively in lectures and seminars
Write 1 final seminar paper at the end of the course
Assessment methods
Cumulative grade: 100% (i.e., 100 points)
- 80% final seminar paper (12 pages of actual text in one of the areas covered in the course).
- 20% active participation of students in discussion and debates.
Bonus points:
Max 1 bonus point pro lecture and seminar attendance (This will be added as surplus to the total points)
Evaluation of Final Seminar Paper (Maximum 80%- 80 points)
Nr.
Requirements
Percentage
Points 1
Required structure and length of seminar paper 15% 15 points 2
How seminar paper is interesting and original? 40% 40 points 3
Correctness and consistence of used arguments 15% 15 points 4
Using an additional literature and scientific sources 10% 10 points 5
Total 80% 80 points
Recommended structure of the Final Seminar Paper:
Times New Roman, 12pt, APA referencing and citation style, 12 pages (excluding content & references)
Writing Style: (Context, Content, and Conclusion – The 3 Cs)
Introduction (Context) - general statement, definition(s) (optional), scope of paper,
(To tell the reader what you intend to cover in the paper, to introduce reader to the topic, to explain what is understood by some key words/concepts.)
Main body (Content) of se