Module overview
The module will discuss in what way globalisation enforces and
ameliorates inequalities: between individuals, men and women, social classes, countries and regions of the world. It will look at agents that have the power to shape these processes: states, businesses, third-sector organisations, international organisations, organised political actors. Studying the literature and data on these topics students will also develop their analytical skills and knowledge of methods and methodology.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Be better able to evaluate the appropriateness of different methods in social research.
- Have improved your ability to critically probe concepts and arguments.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the main agents with the power to affect inequalities: states, businesses, non-governmental organisations, the third sector, non-state organised political actors (trade unions, social movements).
- Have knowledge and understanding of how these inequalities influence the distribution of life chances and wealth in societies.
- Have broadened your understanding of comparative methods as a tool for knowledge creation.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the main types of social inequalities.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the concepts of globalisation, inequality and power in the social science literature.
- Have further developed your analytic skills through critical engagement with different theoretical and empirical approaches.
Syllabus
In the first part of the module we will explore the meaning of globalisation, inequality and power in the social science literature. We will then study the impact of globalisation on inequality, using case studies and examples from around the world. In the final part of the module we will establish why states, businesses, third sector organisations, international organisations and non-state organised political actors are important actors that can increase or ameliorate inequalities, again using case studies. Illustrative examples of case studies:
- Global inequalities: child labour and the corporate social responsibility of global businesses
- States and in/equalities: welfare states around the world
- The development of anti-poverty policies around the world
- Globalisation and welfare retrenchment in highly developed nations
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
This module is taught by means of a twice-weekly lecture and a fortnightly seminar.
Learning activities include:
Discussions, data and text analysis, reading and writing
All teaching and assessment methods are designed with the above learning outcomes in mind, so that for students the steps are transparent that needs to be taken to achieve them
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 20 |
Independent Study | 130 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Deacon, B. (2013). Global Social Policy in the Making. Policy Press.
Yeates, N.; Holden, C. (eds.) (2009). The Global Social Policy Reader. Policy Press.
Holton, R. (2014). Global Inequalities. Palgrave Macmillan.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Plan | 20% |
Essay | 80% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Exam | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External