Transforming society: politics, economics and social policy in the UK

Aims of the course

The course aims to:
1. Promote an understanding of the interconnection of economic theories, political ideologies and social policy as mechanisms for transforming society;
2. Define social policy, consider the complexity of the policy making process and examine how the effectiveness of specific social policy initiatives is to be judged;
3. Explore and critically evaluate examples of the social policy agendas of the Thatcher/Major, New Labour and Coalition government (2010-2015) considering the economic underpinnings of policy and the successes and failures of specific policy initiatives;
4. Critically reflect on recent developments in social policy including Brexit and the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Content

The UK is undergoing rapid social and economic change, for example, in relation to the effects of austerity, the growth of populism, Brexit and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This course introduces you to the intersection of politics, economics and social policy to explain recent social transformations in the UK. Topics covered will include an introduction to economic theories, including Keynesianism and monetarism, and an analysis of the intersection of economic theories and political ideologies as a route to understanding how governments make social policy and, potentially, transform society. Subsequently, you will explore the meaning of social policy, the details of the policy making process and how the effectiveness of specific policy reforms might be evaluated. How are implemented policy initiatives to be judged in terms of success and/or failure?

A critical review will be provided of Thatcherism, New Labour and the Coalition government (2010-2015) in terms of their social policy aims, successes and failures which, to varying degrees, altered social and economic life in the UK. You will also examine austerity, why Britain voted to leave the European Union (Brexit), how Britain left the EU and the current government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The course concludes with a discussion of the material covered in the sessions, an evaluation of research into social policy and consideration of divergent public responses to governments’ various policy initiatives. Therefore, you will reflect on both the intended and unintended consequences of governments’ social policies as mechanisms for changing society. You will also explore the utility and limitations of social science for understanding social change in contemporary Britain.

Presentation of the course

The course will be taught using highly interactive seminar-style sessions, which draw on your knowledge and experience to illustrate key ideas in relation to politics, economics and social policy. PowerPoint presentations will be used to guide sessions. Class discussion and interaction will be encouraged. Individual and group learning activities will be used to promote engagement in the teaching sessions.

Class sessions

Session 1 Economic theories, political ideologies and social policy
This session provides you with an introduction to the course. It will also define key terms used throughout the course, examine the basic assumption of Keynesian and monetarist economics, and explore dominant political ideologies in the UK. You will consider the intersection of economics and politics to understand how and why governments make social policy.

Session 2 Social policy: Making social policy and changing society?
In this session you will review competing definitions of the social policy making process. In addition, you will evaluate various models of the social policy making process and consider how social scientists have tried to evaluate the effectiveness of various governments’ social policy reforms.

Session 3 Thatcherism: Monetarism, neoliberalism and social policy
This session begins with a review of the biography of Margaret Thatcher and explores the electoral success of the Conservatives (1979-1992). You will also be introduced to the defining elements of Thatcherism. Additionally, you will consider those economic beliefs guiding social policy reform. Changes in family law and education policy will be examined to illustrate key debates. Finally, the session will reflect on the successes and failures of key reforms in Thatcher’s Britain.

Session 4 New Labour: Policy aims, successes and failures (Part 1)
This session commences with a review of the biography of Tony Blair and considers factors promoting the electoral success of New Labour (1997-2010). You will also consider the defining elements of the New Labour project including its commitment to neo-liberalism, so-called ethical socialism/social democracy, and communitarianism. The session also provides an overview of New Labour’s key economic policies and its major social policy initiatives.

Session 5 New Labour: Policy aims, successes and failures (Part 2)
In this session, you will compare the central ideas guiding New Labour’s social policy initiatives with those guiding reform under Conservative governments (1979-1997). Examples of family and
education policy will be explored to illustrate reforms adopted by New Labour. The session concludes by examining the successes and failures of New Labour’s social policy agenda.

Session 6 The Coalition: Policy aims, successes and failures (Part 1)
In this session, you will consider the 2010 general election campaign and the results of the general election. The formation of the Coalition government will be examined, for example through an exploration of The Coalition Agreement for Stability and Reform (2010), and the biographies of David Cameron and Nick Clegg will be examined to explore similarities (and differences) between their politics. The ideological position of the Coalition will be examined, including its economic base, and you will review the key social policy aims of the Coalition government.

Session 7 The Coalition: Policy aims, successes and failures (Part 2)
Key social policy initiatives of the Coalition government are outlined in this session including their approaches to: personal taxation and benefits; health and adult social care; education; and employment policy. The successes and failures of these initiative are then analysed drawing on appropriate research evidence. The session concludes by analysing government spending and taxation policy under the Coalition and by examining cuts in departmental spending (2010-2015).

Session 8 Recent developments in social policy 1: Austerity and Brexit
Session 8 defines austerity and explores it as a potential cause of Brexit. The political events leading up to the EU Exit Referendum (2016) are examined, the result is reviewed, and you will consider who voted leave and why. You will then explore how the UK left the EU, for example the Brexit withdrawal agreement/treaty, and the potential costs and benefits of Brexit will be considered (the so-called Brexit balance sheet).

Session 9 Recent developments in social policy 2: Health inequalities and the COVID-19 pandemic
In this session, the social policy response of the UK government to the COVID-19 pandemic will be examined including: lockdowns; stay at home orders; social distancing rules; self-isolation; shielding; working from home; and furlough. Drawing on research into health inequalities, you will explore evidence related to which social groups were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The successes and failures of the response to COVID-19 will be assessed against this evidence.

Session 10 Transforming society? Summary, discussion and evaluation
Session 10 will summarise the various strands of the course. It will allow you to consider the potential merits and limitations of social policy research as a means of understanding social change
(social reproduction and/or transformation) in the UK

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are that you should be able to:
1. Differentiate and explain the main features of Keynesianism and monetarism, and understand the link between economic theory, political ideology and social policy;
2. Define social policy, understand the social policy making process and evaluate methods used to assess the effectiveness of specific social policy initiatives;
3. Critically evaluate the economic foundations and examples of the social policies of the Thatcher/Major, New Labour and Coalition (2010-2015) governments;
4. Draw on historical evidence and emerging sources of data to reflect on the efficacy of Brexit and the current government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Required reading

Alcock, C., Daly, G and Griggs, E (2013) Introducing Social Policy. Second Edition. London: Routledge. Chapter 1 ‘Introduction - what is social policy?’, Chapter 5 ‘Making policy’ and Chapter 10 ‘Ideology, the state and welfare in Britain’. eBook ISBN 9781315834337

Ruth Lupton et al. (2013) Labour’s Social Policy Record: Policy, Spending and Outcomes 1997-2010. Online at: http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/spcc/rr01.pdf

Ruth Lupton et al. (2015) The Coalition’s Social Policy Record: Policy, Spending and Outcomes 2010-2015. Online at: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/RR04.pdf

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.