17265 - Social Policies

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to know fundamental definitions, concepts, theories and issues related to social policies. At the end of the course, they will be able to describe and conceptualize social policies through a sociological code.

Course contents

In the first part the course will briefly deal with main concepts, definitions and topics regarding origin, ‘crisis' and evolution of European and Italian welfare system, giving specific attention to definitions and concepts relating to social policies and their transformation.

In the second part the course will outline the framework of Italian social policies and will focus on main elements related to development, differentiation and change of social policies: normative elements; orientations and cultures; patterns of intervention; levels of government and governance; financial resources; key players, practices, social needs.

Specific attention will be given to underline and explain how socio-cultural variables influence orientation and organisation of social policies, as they refer both to characteristics and expectations of people, and to choices of decision makers, managers and social workers. Specific attention will be given to local welfare dynamics and policies.

Readings/Bibliography

- C. Gori (a cura di), Le politiche del welfare sociale, Mondadori, 2022

- M. Anconelli, F. Franzoni, La rete dei servizi alla persona. Dalla normativa all’organizzazione, Carocci, 2021, terza edizione

- A. Martelli, L’europeizzazione dei diritti sociali: caratteri e sfide, in C. Golino, A. Martelli (a cura di), Un modello sociale europeo? Itinerari dei diritti di Welfare tra dimensione europea e nazionale, Angeli, Milano, 2023 (open access)

- R. Cucca, Y. Kazepov, M. Villa, “Towards a sustainable welfare system? The challenges and scenarios of eco-social transitions”, Politiche sociali, n. 1, 2023, pp. 3-26

- G. Orientale Caputo, G. Viesti, “Il PNRR e le disuguaglianze italiane: potenzialità e criticità”, Autonomie locali e servizi sociali, n. 2, 2022, pp. 199-220

- S. Toso, “Il reddito di base: fondamenti teorici e problemi applicativi”, Rivista del diritto della sicurezza sociale, 4, 2018, pp. 731-738

NB. Erasmus students will have the possibility to study following texts (a different programme can be defined with the professor):

A. Andreotti, E. Mingione, “Local welfare systems in Europe and the economic crisis”, European Urban and Regional Studies, vol. 23 (3), 2016

U. Ascoli, E. Pavolini (eds), The Italian welfare state in a European perspective: A comparative analysis, Policy Press, Bristol, 2015 (selected chapters)

- S. Busso, N. De Luigi, “Civil society actors and the welfare state, PArtecipazione e COnflitto, n. 2, 2019

Y. Kazepov, C. Ranci, “Is every country fit for social investment? Italy as an adverse case”, Journal of european social policy, vol. 27 (1), 2016

B. Palier, “Social policy paradigms, welfare state reforms and the crisis”, Stato e Mercato, n. 1, 2013

C. Saraceno, “Three concurrent crises in welfare states in an increasingly asymmetrical European Union”, Stato e Mercato, n. 3, 2013

R. Cucca, Y. Kazepov, M. Villa, “Towards a sustainable welfare system? The challenges and scenarios of eco-social transitions”, Politiche sociali, n. 1, 2023, pp. 3-26 (24)

Teaching methods

Lectures will refer to handbooks, articles, statistics, empirical studies, with the aim of introducing the sociological analysis of social policies both at a theoretical and at an operational level. Particular attention will be given to sociological definitions and to the sociological code.

Assessment methods

Exam for attending students will consist in one mid-term written exam (weight of 65% on the final marks) and in a final oral exam regarding the part of the course not covered by the written examinations. Attending students who don't participate to, or don't pass, or refuse the grade of mid-term exam will be assessed on the correspondent parts of the programme during the final oral exam.

Attending students who do not participate to, or don't pass mid-term exam and non attending students will be evaluated through an oral exam, according to the sessions that will be.

Exams will check the capacity to use fundamental concepts and theories, particularly for what concerns variables, aspects and challenges related to the evolution of social policies in the Italian context.

Erasmus students will have the possibility to study on alternative, selected texts in English language (see section "Readings/Bibliography").

Teaching tools

Pc, slides, internet

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Martelli