Many political leaders, planners, administrators and intellectuals in both Europe and the developing countries have looked to the Nordic welfare state model with great interest and admiration. The model has found many supporters in the Western industrialized world, as well. Today, however, for economic and also for ideological reasons, the Nordic welfare model is under strain. Programme lays a strong emphasis on the welfare state in the Nordic countries. The programme provides an introduction to the gradual emergence of the welfare states by analysing the Nordic societies through the methodologies of several different academic disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
Students can combine courses to form a syllabus relevant to their interests.
University studies in social sciences or humanities. 1.11.2000 for Spring term 2001. This course introduces the complex structure of welfare and how it is constructed through social policy. Emphasis is placed on the question of equality in welfare provision. The course also deals with recent trends and problems in educational equality and social stratification in the Nordic countries.