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General information |
Course unit name: Political and Social Intervention
Course unit code: 360930
Academic year: 2025-2026
Coordinator: Jordi Cais Fontanella
Department: Department of Sociology
Credits: 6
Single program: N
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Estimated learning time |
Total number of hours 150 |
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Face-to-face and/or online activities |
60 |
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- Lecture with practical component |
Face-to-face |
45 |
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- Problem-solving class |
Face-to-face |
15 |
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Supervised project |
30 |
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Independent learning |
60 |
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Learning objectives |
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Referring to knowledge The aim of this course is to introduce students to key concepts in political sociology and to develop an understanding of how social policies function today. The relationships between the State, the market, and society have undergone significant changes—which are explored throughout the course—and these changes have affected both the concept and the functioning of European welfare states. Perceptions of what constitutes social policy often do not align with reality. The course examines the structure and evolution of European welfare states, as well as the development of the main social policies in Spain and Catalonia over the past three decades. |
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Teaching blocks |
Block 1. Relations between State and Society
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1. Content
This block introduces key theoretical approaches to understanding the relationship between politics and society. It examines the concepts of power, collective action, social and cultural capital, and nationalism, alongside the links between economic policy, social policy and their wider societal effects.
2. Learning Outcomes
The goal is to understand the theoretical foundations of the relationship between policy and society, as well as the relationship between economic policy and social policy and their consequences.
3. Key concepts
Politics, society, power, collective action, social capital, nationalism, gender, social class.
Block 2. Development and Models of the Welfare State
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1. Content
This block explains the origins and development of the welfare state. Social policies are contextualised as a relatively coherent and interconnected system, shaped by historical, social, and political processes This block also serves as a bridge between the theoretical reflections on the role of social policies in contemporary states (covered in the first part of the module) and the analysis of specific policy areas that are central to state intervention in contemporary post-industrial societies (the focus of the second part of the course).
2. Learning outcomes
The goal is to understand, in comparative perspective, the models and characteristics of the welfare state. It seeks to contextualise social policies as a relatively coherent and interconnected system shaped by historical, social, and political developments.
3. Key concepts
Welfare state, specific policy areas.
Block 3. Crisis of the Welfare State
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1. Content
This block examines what is commonly referred to as the crisis of the welfare state. It identifies its origins and causes. It analyses how this crisis has transformed specific social policies, using a comparative perspective and taking into account different tiers of government and administration.
2. Learning outcomes
Understand the reasons why the classic welfare state model needs to be reformed and what these reforms entail.
3. Key concepts
New public management, quasi-market, privatization, outsourcing, social exclusion, the two-thirds society.
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Official assessment of learning outcomes |
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Continuous assessment
Examination-based assessment In the single mode of assessment mode, the final exam is longer and counts for 100% of the final grade. Continuous assessment activities are not required, but students must study all materials related to the exercises and readings from the course. The exam includes questions not only on the lectures delivered by the instructor but also on practical materials. |
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Reading and study resources |
Check availability in Cercabib
Book
MORÁN, M. L. y BENEDICTO, J. (dirs.) Poder y política. El análisis sociopolítico en un mundo de incertidumbres. Marcial Pons, 2024. https://www.marcialpons.es/libros/poder-y-politica/9788413818566/
DEL PINO, E. y RUBIO LARA, J. (dirs.) Los estados de bienestar en la encrucijada: políticas sociales en perspectiva comparada. Madrid: Tecnos, 2016.
MORENO, L. La Europa asocial: crisis y Estado de bienestar. Barcelona: Península. 2012.
ESPING-ANDERSEN, G. Fundamentos sociales de las economias postindustriales. Barcelona: Ariel, 2000
GALLEGO, R. (dir.) Descentralización y desigualdad en el Estado Autonómico. València. Tirant lo Blanch, 2016.
KÖLLING, M. y MARÍ-KLOSE, P. (coords.), Los retos del Estado del Bienestar ante las nuevas desigualdades. Zaragoza, Fundación Martínez Abad, 2018
MONTAGUT, T. Política Social : una introducción. 3a ed. Barcelona : Ariel, 2008.
ESPING-ANDERSEN, G. Los tres mundos del estado del bienestar. València : Alfons el Magnànim. Institució Valenciana d’Estudis i Investigació [etc.], 1993
CASTEL, R. Las metamorfosis de la cuestión social: una crónica del salariado, Barcelona: Paidós. 1997
MORENO, J. ; BRUQUETAS, M. Inmigración y Estado de bienestar en España. Barcelona : Obra Social "la Caixa", cop. 2011
TOBIO, C. et al. El cuidado de las personas: Un reto para el siglo XXI. Barcelona : Obra Social, Fundación "la Caixa", cop. 2010
Catāleg UB 
Catāleg UB. Versiķ en catalā (2010)
LUKES, S. El poder. Un enfoque radical. 2a ed. Madrid : Siglo XXI de España, 2007
MORENO, L. (ed). Reformas de las políticas del bienestar en España. Madrid : Siglo XXI de España, 2009
GIDDENS, A. La Tercera Vía: La renovación de la Socialdemocrácia. Madrid: Taurus, 1999
GALLEGO, R. ; SUBIRATS, J. (dir.) Autonomies i desigualtats a Espanya: Percepcions, evolució social i polítiques de benestar. [Barcelona] : Generalitat de Catalunya. Institut d’Estudis Autonòmics, 2011
Article
DUNLEAVY, P.; HOOD, C. De la Administración Pública Tradicional a la Nueva Gestión Pública. Gestión y análisis de Políticas Públicas [en línia]. Mayo-Agosto de 1995, núm.3 [consulta: 5 de juny de 2015]