17265 - Social Policies

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to know fundamental definitions, concepts, theories and issues related to social policies. At the end of the course, they will be able to describe and conceptualize social policies through a sociological code.

Course contents

In the first part the course will briefly deal with main concepts, definitions and topics regarding origin, ‘crisis' and evolution of European and Italian welfare system, giving specific attention to definitions and concepts relating to social policies and their transformation.

In the second part the course will outline the framework of Italian social policies and will focus on main elements related to development, differentiation and change of social policies: normative elements; orientations and cultures; patterns of intervention; levels of government and governance; financial resources; key players, practices, social needs.

Specific attention will be given to underline and explain how socio-cultural variables influence orientation and organisation of social policies, as they refer both to characteristics and expectations of people, and to choices of decision makers, managers and social workers. Specific attention will be given to local welfare dynamics and policies.

Readings/Bibliography

Il corso si basa sullo studio dei seguenti testi, che costituiranno materia d’esame:

- M. Ferrera (a cura di), Le politiche sociali, Il Mulino, 2019 (Cap.1 e Cap. 5)

- M. Sanfelici, L. Gui, S. Mordeglia (a cura di), Il servizio sociale nell’emergenza Covid-19, Angeli, Milano, 2020, pp. 5-194 (open access: https://bit.ly/3cgOJYK ) (Cap. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

- M. Arlotti, S. Sabatinelli, “Una nuova geografia della cittadinanza sociale? Lo sviluppo territoriale dei servizi sociali a vent’anni dalla legge quadro 328/00”, Politiche sociali, n. 3, 2019, pp. 357-373

- S. Busso, N. De Luigi, “Civil society actors and the welfare state, PArtecipazione e COnflitto, n. 2, 2019, pp. 259-296

- B. Da Roit, “Quarant'anni di politiche di «long-term care» in Italia e in Europa”, Autonomie locali e servizi sociali, n. 3, 2017, pp. 593-607

- G. Moro, “Il Modello sociale europeo fra complessità e ibridazione”, Autonomie locali e servizi sociali, n. 3, 2017, pp. 517-530

- M. Natili, M. Jessoula, E. Pavolini, M. Raitano, “Come finanziare la protezione sociale? Le sfide per un welfare inclusivo e sostenibile”, Quaderni della Coesione Sociale – OCIS, 3, 2019, p. 4-30.

- G. Natoli, M. Santanicchia, A. Turchini, “Terzo settore e servizi sociali. Evidenze empiriche alla luce (incerta) della riforma”, Politiche sociali, n. 2, 2019, pp. 243-252

- A. Santuari, "Le cooperative sociali e lo svolgimento di attività di interesse generale tra riforma del Terzo settore e normativa regionale: il ruolo della regolazione pubblica”, Istituzioni del Federalismo, n. 1, 2019, pp. 181-206

- G. Sgritta, “Politiche e misure della povertà: il reddito di cittadinanza”, Politiche sociali, n. 1, 2020, pp. 39-55

- S. Toso, “Il reddito di base: fondamenti teorici e problemi applicativi”, Rivista del diritto della sicurezza sociale, 4, 2018, pp. 731-738

- C. Saraceno, “L’assistenza senza il welfare”, il Mulino, n. 4, 2009, pp. 553-560

NB. Erasmus students are allowed to study the following texts:

A. Andreotti, E. Mingione, “Local welfare systems in Europe and the economic crisis”, European Urban and Regional Studies, vol. 23 (3), 2016

U. Ascoli, E. Pavolini (eds), The Italian welfare state in a European perspective: A comparative analysis, Policy Press, Bristol, 2015 (selected chapters)

Y. Kazepov, C. Ranci, “Is every country fit for social investment? Italy as an adverse case”, Journal of european social policy, vol. 27 (1), 2016

B. Palier, “Social policy paradigms, welfare state reforms and the crisis”, Stato e Mercato, n. 1, 2013

C. Saraceno, “Three concurrent crises in welfare states in an increasingly asymmetrical European Union”, Stato e Mercato, n. 3, 2013

Teaching methods

Lectures will refer to handbooks, articles, statistics, empirical studies, with the aim of introducing the sociological analysis of social policies both at a theoretical and at an operational level. Particular attention will be given to sociological definitions and to the sociological code.

Assessment methods

Exam for attending students will consist in one mid-term written exam (weight of 50% on the final marks) and in a final oral exam regarding the part of the course not covered by the written examinations. Attending students who don't participate to, or don't pass, or refuse the grade of 1 out of 2 mid-term exams will be assessed on the correspondent parts of the programme during the final oral exam.

Attending students who do not participate to, or don't pass mid-term exam and non attending students will be evaluated through an oral exam, according to the sessions that will be.

Exams will check the capacity to use fundamental concepts and theories, particularly for what concerns variables, aspects and challenges related to the evolution of social policies in the Italian context.

Erasmus students will have the possibility to study on alternative, selected texts in English language (see section "Readings/Bibliography").

Teaching tools

Pc, slides, internet

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Martelli

See the website of Stella Volturo