One of the most recognizable examples of morality policy regulation, the issue of access to abortion remains controversial in most societies. It has been sparking popular mobilization in Europe and the Americas, engaging both pro-abortion as well as anti-abortion activists. While most countries have pursued a road to permissiveness in the last decades (Nebel and Hurka 2014), including Ireland and Argentina, some countries (like Poland) and US states (like Arkansas and Texas) have re-introduced restrictions on access to abortion, effectively banning the procedure (see Calkin and Kaminska 2021). Moreover, countries have displayed different policy responses to the COVID pandemic: in some national contexts access to abortion has been facilitated while other countries have imposed restrictions.
Recent media reports suggest diverging developments:
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-new-abortion-law/a-47611468
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/24/thousands-join-poland-protests-against-strict-abortion-laws
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/26/ireland-votes-by-landslide-to-legalise-abortion
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/09/arkansas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-roe-v-wade
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/30/argentina-legalises-abortion-in-landmark-moment-for-womens-rights
In this seminar, we will discuss the issues behind morality policy regulation. We will examine how access to abortion has been regulated in selected European and South-American countries as well as in the US, by tracing the developments in abortion governance in comparative perspective.
We will look into the role of different factors and actors in liberalizing and restricting access to abortion: courts, social movements, health professionals, religious institutions (mainly Catholic Church), and – in historical perspective – of the communist and fascist ideologies. Transnational aspects, including cross-border abortion trails and the role of transnational organizations and networks in providing and restricting access to abortion, will also be considered. Finally, we will discuss how the COVID pandemic influenced access to abortion, both within and across national borders.
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.
Depending on their needs, individual students can earn between 3 and 9 ECTS for the seminar. The course requirements will be adjusted accordingly.

We will read texts that theorize the emergence of social inequality and discuss over all the role that is ascribed to labour market institutions and structures. Hence, we will discuss collective bargaining and educational policy, but also labour market segementation through law and their effects on inequality. Furthermore we will analyse strategies of relevant actors, namely trade unions but also employers, respectively multi-national companies. Our focus will not be limited to Europe, but include countries around the World.

Parenthood (or the pursuit thereof) remains one of the defining aspects in the lives of many individuals and couples across Europe. At the same time, voluntarily childlessness is on the rise in a number of EU countries, driven e.g. by changing lifestyles but also considerations about climate change. The understanding of parenthood and its different facets differs across the European societies. In this seminar, we will rely on an interdisciplinary approach and perspectives from different policy fields to address – among others – the following questions:
• What fertility rates and the resulting demographic trends can be observed across Europe?
• How do national regulatory frameworks approach parenthood? Who – according to the national laws – has the ‘right’ to become a parent in different countries? Which groups are encouraged and discouraged to have children? (e.g. heterosexual couples? Same-sex couples? Ethnic minorities?)
• If faced with infertility, which ways to parenthood (e.g. assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy) are seen as acceptable and financially supported by public policies?
• What are the social characteristics of individuals who decide to have children?
• Once pregnant, what type and quality of care can women expect from the public healthcare system? Where can they give birth and how? Which professionals will assist them?
• Once the child is born, who is expected to take care of it, and who actually does? Which public policies are put in place to support parents? Can parents rely on maternal, paternal and parental leaves? How long and how generous are these leaves? Can the parents count on access to public childcare? Do they receive financial support?
• How different factors (e.g. culture, religion, historical legacies, ethno-nationalist ideologies) influence these norms and policies?
• How do these norms and policies seem to be affecting fertility rates and demographic trends in Europe?
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.
Depending on their needs, individual students can earn between 3 and 9 ECTS for the seminar. The course requirements will be adjusted accordingly.

We would all associate the labour movement with "Soliarity" as a founding principle. However, with increasing globalisation, the question arises which forms of solidarity emerge in a transnational arena, respectively between organisations and workers of different countries. To answer these questions we both look at institutionalised forms of solidarity in the European Union and their impact on for example the introduction of a European minimum wage. But we also discuss more spontaneous acts of solidarity in food-delivery services, logistics and the automotive industry. Moreover, we exercise scientific writing discussing how to write a research proprosal.

Long-term care describes the need for assistance with daily living – for instance, showering, eating, or cleaning – due to physical and/or mental impairment. Compared to social risks such as sickness or loss of income due to work injuries or old-age, long-term care is a rather novel and emerging field of social policy making. This novelty makes it a challenging but also highly interesting and relevant field of welfare state studies. The largest group in need of long-term care are old-aged people. Therefore, with the global trend of population ageing, the demand and the need for public policies addressing long-term care is increasing not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world.
Additionally, traditional care arrangements where (mostly) women take informally care of family members are increasingly at odds with rising female labour market participation, mobility, and feminist ideas.
In the seminar we will review and discuss the developments in long-term care policies from a global perspective. We will start off with defining long-term care as a social policy field and contemplate its historical emergence as a welfare state “latecomer”. During the seminar, we will take a closer look at the key dimensions of long-term care systems and compare different types of systems: How are long-term care systems regulated and financed, and what are the challenges in the provision of long-term care? What differences exist between regions and countries and how can these differences be explained? Furthermore, we will also highlight a selection of current global trends such as care migration, marketization of care, the changing role of families and the way international interdependencies shape national long-term care policies.

Healthcare systems account for an average of 10% of GDP spending in EU countries. As such, spending on healthcare it is one of the most important social policy items in the national budgets in Europe. The importance of well-functioning healthcare systems has become more evident than ever during the current COVID019 pandemic. But, obviously, also in less dramatic circumstances healthcare systems are crucial to the well-being of the population. Yet, EU healthcare systems differ greatly in how they are financed and regulated, and how provision of services is organized. As a result, the ability to address the needs of the population also varies.
In this seminar, we will comparatively study the EU healthcare systems to understand these differences, and the reasons behind them. We will use interdisciplinary lenses and perspectives from different policy fields to address – among others – the following topics:
• Main dimensions of healthcare systems: financing, provision and regulation
• Historical developments in healthcare systems in European regions: Western, Southern and Central-Eastern Europe
• Healthcare typologies: are they useful? Why are there so many different ones?
• Political economy of healthcare: What shapes health(care) policy?
• Healthcare professionals: professional organizations, provider levels, the role of doctors in regulating healthcare systems
• Access to healthcare: regulatory aspects and financial incentives shaping entry and reception of care as well as effective access or actual ability of patients to avail themselves of healthcare provision
• Unmet health needs in European healthcare systems
• Patients’ preferences and satisfaction
• The role of the European Union in national healthcare systems, including in the COVID-19 pandemic
• The role of other International Organizations in shaping healthcare systems in Europe
• Healthcare across borders: cross-border care for patients; migration of healthcare professionals and brain drain
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.

We would all associate the labour movement with "Soliarity" as a founding principle. However, with increasing globalisation, the question arises which forms of solidarity emerge in a transnational arena, respectively between organisations and workers of different countries. To answer these questions we both look at institutionalised forms of solidarity in the European Union and their impact on for example the introduction of a European minimum wage. But we also discuss more spontaneous acts of solidarity in food-delivery services, logistics and the automotive industry. Moreover, we exercise scientific writing discussing how to write a research proprosal.

Long-term care describes the need for assistance with daily living – for instance, showering, eating, or cleaning – due to physical and/or mental impairment. Compared to social risks such as sickness or loss of income due to work injuries or old-age, long-term care is a rather novel and emerging field of social policy making. This novelty makes it a challenging but also highly interesting and relevant field of welfare state studies. The largest group in need of long-term care are old-aged people. Therefore, with the global trend of population ageing, the demand and the need for public policies addressing long-term care is increasing not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world.
Additionally, traditional care arrangements where (mostly) women take informally care of family members are increasingly at odds with rising female labour market participation, mobility, and feminist ideas.
In the seminar we will review and discuss the developments in long-term care policies from a global perspective. We will start off with defining long-term care as a social policy field and contemplate its historical emergence as a welfare state “latecomer”. During the seminar, we will take a closer look at the key dimensions of long-term care systems and compare different types of systems: How are long-term care systems regulated and financed, and what are the challenges in the provision of long-term care? What differences exist between regions and countries and how can these differences be explained? Furthermore, we will also highlight a selection of current global trends such as care migration, marketization of care, the changing role of families and the way international interdependencies shape national long-term care policies.

Comparative welfare state research has for a long time been centred on welfare states of the Global North. However, in recent years social policy arrangements in the Global South are increasingly studied as well. In this seminar, we will shed light on some of the key questions that arise in this regard: Which developments have shaped social policy-making in the Global South? What does social policy look like if we include policy instruments and ideas from Latin American, Asian or African countries? How are social policy developments in different countries and regions connected, and which role do transnational factors play here? And finally: Which theoretical approaches can we rely on to study social policy in the Global South?

The course language is English. Information on course structure and requirements will be provided in the first session.

One of the most recognizable examples of morality policy regulation, the issue of access to abortion remains controversial in most societies. It has been sparking popular mobilization in Europe and the Americas, engaging both pro-abortion as well as anti-abortion activists. While most countries have pursued a road to permissiveness in the last decades (Nebel and Hurka 2014), including Ireland and Argentina, some countries (like Poland) and US states (like Arkansas and Texas) have re-introduced restrictions on access to abortion, effectively banning the procedure (see Calkin and Kaminska 2021). Moreover, countries have displayed different policy responses to the COVID pandemic: in some national contexts access to abortion has been facilitated while other countries have imposed restrictions.
Recent media reports suggest diverging developments:
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-new-abortion-law/a-47611468
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/24/thousands-join-poland-protests-against-strict-abortion-laws
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/26/ireland-votes-by-landslide-to-legalise-abortion
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/09/arkansas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-roe-v-wade
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/30/argentina-legalises-abortion-in-landmark-moment-for-womens-rights
In this seminar, we will discuss the issues behind morality policy regulation. We will examine how access to abortion has been regulated in selected European and South-American countries as well as in the US, by tracing the developments in abortion governance in comparative perspective.
We will look into the role of different factors and actors in liberalizing and restricting access to abortion: courts, social movements, health professionals, religious institutions (mainly Catholic Church), and – in historical perspective – of the communist and fascist ideologies. Transnational aspects, including cross-border abortion trails and the role of transnational organizations and networks in providing and restricting access to abortion, will also be considered. Finally, we will discuss how the COVID pandemic influenced access to abortion, both within and across national borders.
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.
Depending on their needs, individual students can earn between 3 and 9 ECTS for the seminar. The course requirements will be adjusted accordingly.

Parenthood (or the pursuit thereof) remains one of the defining aspects in the lives of many individuals and couples across Europe. At the same time, voluntarily childlessness is on the rise in a number of EU countries, driven e.g. by changing lifestyles but also considerations about climate change. The understanding of parenthood and its different facets differs across the European societies. In this seminar, we will rely on an interdisciplinary approach and perspectives from different policy fields to address – among others – the following questions:
• What fertility rates and the resulting demographic trends can be observed across Europe?
• How do national regulatory frameworks approach parenthood? Who – according to the national laws – has the ‘right’ to become a parent in different countries? Which groups are encouraged and discouraged to have children? (e.g. heterosexual couples? Same-sex couples? Ethnic minorities?)
• If faced with infertility, which ways to parenthood (e.g. assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy) are seen as acceptable and financially supported by public policies?
• What are the social characteristics of individuals who decide to have children?
• Once pregnant, what type and quality of care can women expect from the public healthcare system? Where can they give birth and how? Which professionals will assist them?
• Once the child is born, who is expected to take care of it, and who actually does? Which public policies are put in place to support parents? Can parents rely on maternal, paternal and parental leaves? How long and how generous are these leaves? Can the parents count on access to public childcare? Do they receive financial support?
• How different factors (e.g. culture, religion, historical legacies, ethno-nationalist ideologies) influence these norms and policies?
• How do these norms and policies seem to be affecting fertility rates and demographic trends in Europe?
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.
Depending on their needs, individual students can earn between 3 and 9 ECTS for the seminar. The course requirements will be adjusted accordingly.

We would all associate the labour movement with "Soliarity" as a founding principle. However, with increasing globalisation, the question arises which forms of solidarity emerge in a transnational arena, respectively between organisations and workers of different countries. To answer these questions we both look at institutionalised forms of solidarity in the European Union and their impact on for example the introduction of a European minimum wage. But we also discuss more spontaneous acts of solidarity in food-delivery services, logistics and the automotive industry. Moreover, we exercise scientific writing discussing how to write a research proprosal.

We would all associate the labour movement with "Soliarity" as a founding principle. However, with increasing globalisation, the question arises which forms of solidarity emerge in a transnational arena, respectively between organisations and workers of different countries. To answer these questions we both look at institutionalised forms of solidarity in the European Union and their impact on for example the introduction of a European minimum wage. But we also discuss more spontaneous acts of solidarity in food-delivery services, logistics and the automotive industry. Moreover, we exercise scientific writing discussing how to write a research proprosal.

Long-term care describes the need for assistance with daily living – for instance, showering, eating, or cleaning – due to physical and/or mental impairment. Compared to social risks such as sickness or loss of income due to work injuries or old-age, long-term care is a rather novel and emerging field of social policy making. This novelty makes it a challenging but also highly interesting and relevant field of welfare state studies. The largest group in need of long-term care are old-aged people. Therefore, with the global trend of population ageing, the demand and the need for public policies addressing long-term care is increasing not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world.
Additionally, traditional care arrangements where (mostly) women take informally care of family members are increasingly at odds with rising female labour market participation, mobility, and feminist ideas.
In the seminar we will review and discuss the developments in long-term care policies from a global perspective. We will start off with defining long-term care as a social policy field and contemplate its historical emergence as a welfare state “latecomer”. During the seminar, we will take a closer look at the key dimensions of long-term care systems and compare different types of systems: How are long-term care systems regulated and financed, and what are the challenges in the provision of long-term care? What differences exist between regions and countries and how can these differences be explained? Furthermore, we will also highlight a selection of current global trends such as care migration, marketization of care, the changing role of families and the way international interdependencies shape national long-term care policies.

Healthcare systems account for an average of 10% of GDP spending in EU countries. As such, spending on healthcare it is one of the most important social policy items in the national budgets in Europe. The importance of well-functioning healthcare systems has become more evident than ever during the current COVID019 pandemic. But, obviously, also in less dramatic circumstances healthcare systems are crucial to the well-being of the population. Yet, EU healthcare systems differ greatly in how they are financed and regulated, and how provision of services is organized. As a result, the ability to address the needs of the population also varies.
In this seminar, we will comparatively study the EU healthcare systems to understand these differences, and the reasons behind them. We will use interdisciplinary lenses and perspectives from different policy fields to address – among others – the following topics:
• Main dimensions of healthcare systems: financing, provision and regulation
• Historical developments in healthcare systems in European regions: Western, Southern and Central-Eastern Europe
• Healthcare typologies: are they useful? Why are there so many different ones?
• Political economy of healthcare: What shapes health(care) policy?
• Healthcare professionals: professional organizations, provider levels, the role of doctors in regulating healthcare systems
• Access to healthcare: regulatory aspects and financial incentives shaping entry and reception of care as well as effective access or actual ability of patients to avail themselves of healthcare provision
• Unmet health needs in European healthcare systems
• Patients’ preferences and satisfaction
• The role of the European Union in national healthcare systems, including in the COVID-19 pandemic
• The role of other International Organizations in shaping healthcare systems in Europe
• Healthcare across borders: cross-border care for patients; migration of healthcare professionals and brain drain
The seminar is organized in monthly block meetings and will take place online via zoom. Readings and course material will be made available on Stud.IP.

Photovoice is a participatory and activating research method which currently gains in popularity. It is part of a larger array of community-based research and integrates subjects in the research itself through methods of photography and focus groups etc. In cooperation with the network for European Social Work YES Forum, I offer a three-day intensive training to learn the method photovoice. This international training will provide the opportunity to students from diverse European countries to meet and learn together, including hands-on empirical implementation. Furthermore, students will have the possibility to travel to either Italy or Austria and come together with practitioners of youth social work, non-formal education, and other students. Thus, the trainings will be held in English and students need to be travelling as well. Since this is funded through Erasmus+, costs for participation, travel, accommodation, and food are covered.
The course requires some prior methods training, hence it is open only to Master students.
Costs for participation, travel, accommodation, and food will be covered thanks to Erasmus+ funding. Any other expenses need to be self-financed.
As there is a limited number of places, students that want to attend one of the trainings need to hand in a motivation letter describing why/how the method of photovoice benefits their academic work and studies. This letter should be sent to fbesche@uni-bremen.de and indicate for which of the trainings the student is applying. The deadline for the motivation letter is April 15th. Decisions on attendance will be made shortly after that deadline.

Termine:
Mandatory preparation training (in Bremen): tbd

Training 1: 23-25 May (Arrival on 22/05, Departure on 25/05) in Viareggio, Italy
Training 2: 04.-06. July (Arrival on 03/07, Departure on 07/07) in Vienna, Austria
Please note: you will participate to one of the two trainings only, as they are identical.

Veranstaltung offen für: General Studies Bereich von MA Politikwissenschaft und MA Sozialpolitik

This seminar will address the relationship between social class and gender-based forms of stratification in modern societies and in historical perspective. Overall, the question of interest is why the inequalities at the intersection of class and gender in paid and unpaid work persist across industrialized societies despite some impressive policy achievements over the past half century. The primary literature source will be the book “Gender-Class Equality in Political Economies”. In this book, Lynn Prince Cooke places gender inequality in a context that is historically shaped by the intersections of multiple inequalities and the particularities of six countries: Germany (East and West), Spain, Australia, the UK and the US. Gender-class inequalities persist in paid work hours, wages, and the division of housework. The study shows how values, choices, and behaviors of individual men and women in various national contexts are enabled and constrained by state policies that effectively structure relative group advantage and disadvantage from birth through old age.