Introductory description

The module introduces students to the major historical developments in social welfare, reviews the major competing analytical ‘perspectives’ on the post Second World War British welfare state, and considers a variety of contemporary social welfare issues, focusing particularly on poverty and health policy.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Perspectives of welfare in social policy analysis.
The 1601 Poor Law.
The origins of the nineteenth century poor law.
The poor laws in operation: ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor.
Public health reform in the 19th century: an exception to laissez-faire?
The Liberal Welfare reforms: the genesis of state protection.
From world war to world slump: politics and mass unemployment.
World War II and the Beveridge Report: security from cradle to grave?
The origins of the National Health Service: competing perspectives.
The ‘classic’ welfare state up to the 1970s – Was there ever a Golden Age?
Writing a policy research report.
Thatcherism and the post-war welfare consensus.
New Labour and the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition.
Employment and Work.
Poverty.
Pensions.
Education.
The NHS.
Health Inequalities.
Housing.
Class presentations.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Have further developed transferable skills such as analytical thinking, self-management, study skills, interpersonal skills and written and oral communication skills.
• Understand the history and development of welfare provision in Britain from the 19th century to the present day.
• Identify the main ideological perspectives which have influenced these developments and analyse state welfare using critical perspectives.
• Apply the historical and analytical understanding gained to the detailed investigation of a range of contemporary social welfare issues.

Indicative reading list

Alcock, C., Payne, S. and Sullivan, M. (2000), Introducing Social Policy, Harlow: Prentice Hall.
Blakemore, K. (1998), Social Policy: An Introduction, Buckingham: Open Univ Press
Bochel, H et al (2005), Social Policy: Issues and Developments, London: Prentice Hall.
Ellison, N. and Pierson, C. (Eds.), (2003), Developments in British Social Policy, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Laalette, M. and Pratt, A. (2005) Social Policy: Theories, Concepts and Issues. London: Sage.
Fraser, D. (2010), The Evolution of the British Welfare State, Basingstoke: Macmillan: 4th edition.
Glennerster, H. (1995), British Social Policy Since 1945, Oxford: Blackwell.
Gladstone, D. (1999), The Twentieth Century Welfare State, British History in Perspective series, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Harris, B. (2004), The Origins of the British Welfare State, Basingstoke: Palgrave
Johnson, P. (ed) (1994) Twentieth Century Britain, London, Longman
Thane, P. (1996), The Foundations of the Welfare State, 2nd ed: Longman.

Subject specific skills

NEEDED

Transferable skills

NEEDED