This course focuses on the social policy experience of countries in the majority world, aiming to introduce participants to the ideas and institutions that shape social policy and the drivers for change. 

The course is divided into four broad streams.  The first explores the purpose of social policy, recognising that social policy operates within broad community and social structures.  The theories and philosophies that underlie social policy will also be examined within this stream.  The second stream asks what determines the nature of a country's social welfare system.  For example, what is the influence of different institutional arrangements (ie: federalism vs unitary states), and different cultural, historical or religious traditions.  The third stream identifies the key actors involved in developing social policy priorities and delivering services, exploring the relationship between them.  The fourth stream examines the drivers of change in social policy, asking under what circumstances does social policy change (ie: demographic shifts; economic and/or social crisis; regime change) and what role do NGOs and communities play in driving change?