Social Politics (2009/2010)

Learning outcomes

The purpose of this course is to give the students some analitycal tools to analyze social politics and Welfare State istitutions. In particular, the first goal is meant to give them the necessary competence in order to allow them to critically read the foremost processes which define the Welfare State. The course also aims to discuss the social precesses of inclusion-exclusions. Finally, the second goal is directed to encourage the students to alyze the relationship between Welfare State and social control precesses.

Initially, the course aims to explain the meaning of some main concepts, such as Welfare State, Social Politics, Pubblic Assistance, etc. . Then, the lessons will analyze the Italian Welfare situation compared with the rest of Europe. The purpose is to show both the positive results and also the problems the Italian Welfare State is facing with reference to the future challenges (people obsolescence, improvement health and assistance needs, work insecurity, family models trasformation, deficit of pubblic budget). Then, it will analyze the concepts and the processes of the social inclusion-exclusion with their istitutional, economic and cultural factors. The course will consider thus the concepts of theSocietary Welfare and the Social Capital. Finally, we will analyze the role of social policy in the riprodution of the dominant system of social relationship (social control).

(Bibliography):
- Ferrera M., Le politiche sociali, il Mulino, Bologna, 2006;
- Melossi D., Stato, controllo sociale, devianza. Teorie criminologiche e società tra Europa e Stati Uniti, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2002.
- Cecchi S., Modernità ed inclusione sociale, CEDAM, Padova, 2007;

Oral Examination.