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SOCI609 Social Theory and Social Policy

10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation Teaching and learning strategies will include lectures and workshops, directed reading, experiential learning in workshops, independent learning group strategies, and reflective practice on the part of participants.

This unit offers a critical introduction to classical and recent social theories with a focus on changing contexts for social policy development. Key approaches for understanding the broad social trends which have affected individuals, families and communities over the past 200 years are examined. In particular, the unit examines the impact of changing relations between governments, economic markets and civil society during this time.

Today, globalisation, post-modernity, and urgent environmental challenges are our context. Within this, there are new ways of conceiving the role of national government in social provision and economic intervention, new ideas about social and personal identity around gender, race and ethnicity, and about citizenship, social inclusion and participation. These form the context for the development of social policy across a broad range of areas, from welfare, to education, immigration, indigenous issues, health, employment and industrial relations.

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