Module Identifier | LA34810 | ||
Module Title | WELFARE LAW | ||
Academic Year | 2002/2003 | ||
Co-ordinator | Miss Katherine S Williams | ||
Semester | Intended for use in future years | ||
Next year offered | N/A | ||
Next semester offered | N/A | ||
Other staff | Ms Anne E Barlow | ||
Pre-Requisite | LA10110 or LA30110 and LA11010 or LA31010 or LA15710 | ||
Co-Requisite | LA36130 None | ||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 Hours | |
Seminars / Tutorials | 4 Hours Seminar. | ||
Assessment | Semester Assessment | 2 Hours Essay: Two assessed essays of 2000 words (Required in week 7 & 11) Each essay forms 50% of the total mark | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | By means of coursework |
Although you may be forgiven for attributing the above quote to Charles Dickens, it is, in fact an accurate description of late twentieth century London. Yet, the establishment of the welfare state sought to eradicate poverty and its consequences, such as homelessness. What then has gone wrong? And what safeguards does the law provide for those less able to fend for themselves in our society?
In this course, we examine the rise and fall of the welfare state, by considering the social theories, legislation and policies which have shaped its introduction and decline. The organisation of the course and the manner of its teaching aims to encourage students to think critically and appreciate how legislation in this field cannot be separated from its political and social policy context.
It seeks firstly to introduce law students to critical theories of social policy and economics which have influenced law and policy making in this field. It also aims to consider the legislation and case law which has resulted as well as study academic research (for example that of Professor Townsend) which has drawn attention to the social consequences of the law. The student is encouraged to read widely and to think critically and independently about the issues raised in the course. It is a subject area which lends itself particularly well to seminar discussions.
The first part of the course therefore concentrates on the history and evolution of the welfare state, theories of poverty and ideologies of welfare and welfare provision. The second part of the course builds on the first more theoretical part, and examines some of the different types of welfare provision, such as state benefits and the law relating to these. In particular, the post 1979 era which aimed to revolutionise the role of the state in welfare provision will be studied.
Syllabus
PART I
1. Theories of Welfare Provision by States
2. The Concept of Poverty - Absolute or Relative?
3. Ideologies of Welfare
3.1 Laissez-Faire 3.2 New Liberalism 3.3 Welfarism and consensus 3.4 The New Right 3.5 Feminism
4. History of the Welfare State -
4.1 From the old Poor Laws to the Liberal Reforms. 4.2 The early twentieth century through the application of Beveridge. 4.3 The beginning of the retreat from the Beveridge ideals. 4.4 The welfare state and poverty. 4.5 Women and poverty.
5. Law as a Social Construct and the welfare state
PART II
6. The Introduction of a System of Welfare Benefits - To means-test or not to means-test?
6.1 The redefinition of poverty in accordance with "minimum needs"
6.2 The modern system of benefits prior to 1979 in outline and changes introduced before 1986
6.3 The Ideological Shift and the Social Security Review of 1985 - its political and theoretical heritage (e.g. Monetarism and Raynerism) and its policy implications (e.g. the pursuit of the "scrounger").
6.4 Today's scheme of welfare benefits in outline: The legacy of Beveridge and Thatcher.
6.5 The Law and those who depend on the stats: A close look at Jobseekers Allowance; Income Support; Family Credit and the Social Fund
6.6 New Labour: New Deal: Can Welfare to work succeed