Social Policies (241001)

Learning Outcomes

The social policies have been object of deep changes due to the globalization of trade and production and the slowdown of the economic growth. The aim of this curricular unit is to contextualize students into the options and models that are being discussed in the contemporary debate about the redefinition of social policies. It is also intended to analyze the recent evolution of social policy in Portugal within the European Union environment

Study Program

Chapter I – Perspectives and models of Social Policy

  1. Origin of the concept of Social Policy
  2. The diversity of concepts of Social Policy
  3. Social Policy Models: historical evolution
  4. Current Social Policy Models

4.1. The Neoliberal Model

4.2. The European Social Model

4.3. Diversity in the European Social Model

4.4. The European Social Model in the context of austerity

 

Chapter II - The Social Policy in the Market Economy

  1. From the Liberal State to the Welfare State

1.1. The Poor Law’s

1.2. The liberal reaction

1.3. The new perspective in the early twentieth century

1.4. The Beveridge Plan and the advent of the Welfare State

  1. Growth and Retraction of the Welfare State
  2. The 1980s and the transition to a new form of government
  3. Financial crisis and the Welfare State

 

Chapter III - The Social Policy in Portugal

  1. Welfare State and Welfare Society in Portugal
  2. The social security system in Portugal

2.1. Historic evolution

2.2. Influencing factors of the current situation

2.3. Perspectives on social security reform

2.4. Third sector and Social Policy

  1. The National Health System in the context of austerity

3.1. Evolution of the health system

3.2. The new health system law

  1. Austerity measures and Social Policy

 

Chapter IV - The Social Policy in the European Union

  1. The social measures in the Treaty of Rome
  2. The Single Act and the reinforcement of the importance of Social Policy
  3. The European Social Charter
  4. The Treaty on European Union and the protocol on social policy
  5. The Green Paper and the White Paper on European Social Policy
  6. The Treaty of Amsterdam
  7. The Lisbon Agenda and social policy as a productive factor
  8. The 2020 Strategy and European Social Policy.

Bibliography

 

Capucha, Luís (2016), Das políticas sociais à crise ou políticas sociais para superar a crise? In Cristina Albuquerque e Helena Amaro da Luz (coord.). Políticas Sociais em Tempos de Crise. Lisboa: Factor.

 

Lemb, Wolgang (2019), For a Europe with a Future. Plea for the Primacy of Social Europe. Berlin: Social Europe Publishing.