The course clarifies the concepts of social policies and Welfare State in a
comparative perspective, with a critical approach and with reference to
relevant theoretical traditions (policy studies). The third part of the
course will be devoted to a critical analysis of reflexive social service
practices through in-class practical exercises.
Ferrera, M. (2019). Le politiche sociali. (Terza edizione). Bologna, Il
Mulino. Capitoli 2, 3, 5.
Ranci, C., & Pavolini, E. (2015). Le politiche di welfare. Bologna, Il Mulino.
Capitoli 2, 3, 7, 8, 9.
Gori, C., Ghetti, V., Rusmini, G., & Tidoli, R. (2014). Il welfare sociale in
Italia. Realtà e prospettive. Roma, Carocci. Capitoli 5 e 10.
Fazzi, L. (2015). Servizio sociale riflessivo: metodi e tecniche per gli
assistenti sociali. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Ricucci, R. (2018). (Nuova edizione). Cittadini senza cittadinanza.
Immigrati, seconde e altre generazioni: pratiche quotidiane tra inclusione
ed estraneità. Torino: SEB27, Capitoli 2, 3, 4 pp. 21-87.
Non attending students need to read all the above plus three additional
readings of choice from the following list:
1) Ferrera, M. (2019). Le politiche sociali. Terza edizione. Bologna, Il
Mulino. Capitoli 2, 4.
2) Ranci, C., & Pavolini, E. (2015). Le politiche di welfare. Bologna, Il
Mulino. Capitoli 4, 6.
3) Gori, C., Ghetti, V., Rusmini, G., & Tidoli, R. (2014). Il welfare sociale in
Italia. Realtà e prospettive. Roma, Carocci. Capitolo 11.
4) Saraceno. C. (2009). Le politiche della famiglia in Europa: tra
convergenza e diversificazione. In: Stato e mercato, 29(1), pp. 3-30.
5) Saraceno, C. (2014). Simmetrie perverse. I paradossi delle politiche di
contrasto alla povertà negli anni della crisi in Italia. In: Social Policies,
1(1), pp. 27-40.
6) Sgritta, G. B. (2020). Politiche e misure della povertà: il reddito di
cittadinanza, Social Policies, 6 (1), pp. 39-56.
7) Madama, I., & Jessoula, M. (2019). Compliance, gatekeeping o
affermazione della sovranità nazionale? Risultati e limiti di «Europa
2020» nella lotta alla povertà. Social Policies, 6(1), pp. 159-178.
8) G. Bateson, Verso un’ecologia della mente, Adelphi, Milano, 2000 (o
edizione più recente). Solo i saggi della Parte VI: “Le radici della crisi
ecologica”, “Ecologia e flessibilità nella civiltà urbana”.
N.B.: The reading list may change.
If you are an Erasmus student, it is possible to take the exam in English.
You can integrate the above-mentioned list with the following texts:
- Garland, D. (2016). The Welfare State: a brief introduction, Oxford
University Press.
- Fazzi, L. (2016). "Are we educating creative professionals? The results of
some experiments on the formation of social work Students in Italy" in
Social work education, v. 35, n. 1 (2016), p. 89-99.
Learning Objectives
A solid knowledge of the Italian Welfare State in a critical and
comparative perspective and the ability to create relevant links between
theory and practice.
Prerequisites
A good knowledge of classical sociological theory is desirable but not
essential.
Teaching Methods
Interactive lectures; seminars; group exercises; in-class discussions.
Further information
This course is based on the pedagogical principles of active learning and learning by doing. In this sense, the most significant disadvantage of non-attending students is that they will miss a learning experience that can only be acquired through regular and interactive participation in the course, possibly in presence.
In other words, those who do not regularly attend the course will lose the most important educational opportunity--that of an active and interactive approach to learning--and will merely add another mark to their transcript. Supplementary readings are indicated in this syllabus and on MOODLE.
For any further information, please visit the MOODLE learning space and the lecturer’s webpage
(Prof. Alessandro Pratesi)
Contact: a.pratesi@unifi.it
Type of Assessment
In class participation and debates; written mid-term exam; final written
examination.
Course program
The course provides a theoretical and comparative approach to the
analysis and understanding of the Italian Welfare State. The first part of
the course, theoretically oriented, reconstructs the historical origins of
the modern Welfare State and focuses on the specificities of the Italian
model (an almost ideal typical model of the Mediterranean welfare state)
in relation to other European welfare models, with a specific
consideration of the new social risks. The second part of the course (II
module), is based on a deeper exploration and analysis of specific public
policies: pension policies, work policies, health and social care policies,
work-care balance policies, migration policies, etc. In each of these areas,
the foundations and the characteristics of the current Italian welfare state
are examined in broad terms, highlighting its complexities through a
comparison with other European states and discussing its ability to
respond to the multiple challenges emerging from ongoing social
transformations and economic crises. The third part of the course
(module III) will be devoted to a critical analysis of reflexive social service
practices based on an overview of the daily work of social workers which
will be carried out through in-class practical exercises. A general
evaluation of the developments of the deficient Italian welfare, potential
gaps in the current literature, and the analysis of possible future
scenarios will underline the overall learning process and approach of this
course.