SD2S111 - Politics, Public Services, and the Welfare State 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD2S111
Module Title: Politics, Public Services, and the Welfare State
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Paul Lewis
Module Team: Jennifer Law, David Phillips, Hayley Jenkins
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100647 - public policy
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

  • Develop students’ critical understanding of the typology of welfare and social security systems, paying particular attention to the UK 

  • Enhance students’ ability to apply and analyse political ideologies in social policy issues 

  • Further students’ ability to critically appraise contemporary social issues and critically analyse these in the context of future challenges affecting our public services

Content Summary

Students will explore:  

  • The development of the ‘social contract’ and the Welfare State in the UK 

  • The role of the State and political ideologies underpinning the development of social security systems.  

  • Policy-making processes 

  • Concepts including equality, equity and means assessments 

  • Key issues including poverty, educational attainment, health inequalities, families and social policy, housing and homelessness, aging population, obesity and welfare services. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminars 20
Independent Study 88
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Examine and critically analyse relevant theories and concepts relating to the UK Welfare State
LO2 Analyse data relating to issues in social policy drawing appropriate conclusions

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Critically analyse a contemporary social security issue and evaluate the State’s progress in meeting its obligations laid down by Article 22 of the UDHR. Analyse relevant trends and identify potential policy solutions for a future welfare state, clearly setting out an evidence-based rationale 0 3000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1

Reading List

Alcock, P. (2022) Social Policy in Britain. (5th edn). Bloomsbury Academic 

Anderson, C., & Hecht, J. (2015). ‘Happiness and the Welfare State: Decommodification and the Political Economy of Subjective Well-Being’ in P. Beramendi, S. Häusermann, H. Kitschelt, & H. Kriesi (Eds.), The Politics of Advanced Capitalism (pp. 357-380). Cambridge: Cambridge University 

Armstrong, S. (2017) The New Poverty. Verso: London 

Cairney, P. (2019) Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues. Red Globe Press 

Dean, H. (2020) Understanding Human Need. (2nd edn). Policy Press: Bristol 

Dorey, P. , Garnett, M. and Diamond, P. (2023). Exploring British politics (6th edn.) London: Routledge. 

Esping-Anderson, G. (1989) Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Polity 

European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (2023) The future of social protection and of the welfare state in the EU, Publications Office of the European Union. Available at: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/35425 (Accessed: 26/11/2023) 

Greve, B. (2019) Welfare and the Welfare State Central Issues Now and in the Future. (2nd edn). Routledge. 

Jones, B. and O’Donnell, M. (eds) (2018) Alternatives to Neoliberalism. Policy Press: Bristol 

Knill, C. and Tosun, J. (2020) Public Policy: A New Introduction. Red Globe Press 

McNeil et al (2021) ‘No Longer Managing’: The Rise of Working Poverty and Fixing Britain’s Broken Social Settlement. [.pdf] Institute of Public Policy Research.  Available at: https://www.ippr.org/files/2021-05/no-longer-managing-may21.pdf (Accessed: 26/11/2023) 

Murphy, M. (2023) Creating an Ecosocial Welfare Future. Policy Press: Bristol 

United Nations (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [.html] Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (Accessed: 26/11/2023) 

Williams, F. (2021) Social Policy: A Critical and Intersectional Analysis. Polity.