GLS 205
SOCIAL POLICY
Spring 2024
Monday and Thursday 12:30 – 1:50pm
Jennison 215
Professor Gainsborough
Phone: 781-891-2868
Email: jgainsborough@bentley.edu
Coffee Hours: Monday 2-3pm
Thursday 2-3pm
or by appointment
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course examines the development of American social policy and current debates
and conflicts over its future. The key question at the heart of the course is the societal
and governmental obligation to assist individuals in need. A central theme of the course
is that the U.S. relies more heavily on the private sector to provide social benefits than
other industrialized democracies. In explaining why this is the case, we consider the
history of social policy development in the U.S., in particular, the way in which social
policy has been, and continues to be, shaped by the politics of race and gender. As we
turn to analysis of particular types of social policy—pensions, healthcare, welfare, family
support—we will be concerned with both normative and empirical issues, considering
what we think government should do as well as the politics surrounding given policy
alternatives. Finally, we also consider the consequences of alternative approaches to
social policy in terms of outcomes for particular groups—for example, which social
groups have more or less retirement security and better or worse health outcomes.
Course Learning Goals & Objectives:
Knowledge: Students will understand the nature of social policy in the U.S., how it
developed overtime, and how it compares to social policy in other industrialized
democracies.
Perspective: Students will understand how the current politics of social policy are
informed by the historical development of social programs and shaped by the politics of
race and gender.
Skills: Students will be able to think critically about current political debates over social
programs in the U.S.
After taking this course, students will be able to:
 Identify the various programs that constitute social policy in the U.S.
 Distinguish between means-tested and universal social programs.
 Describe the distinctive features of U.S. social policy and distinguish between
public and private benefits.
 Understand the ways in which race and gender have shaped the development of
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social policy in the U.S.
Understand how political culture and political institutions shape the politics of social
policy in the U.S.
Understand how poverty is currently defined by the U.S. government and describe
key criticisms of the poverty measure.
Describe key features of TANF and the political factors that shaped its passage and
implementation.
Describe key features of the Affordable Care Act and the political factors that
surrounded its passage and implementation.
Describe key features of the Social Security Program and identify current proposals
for reform.
Discuss the supports available to working parents and evaluate the need for
additional government action.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
There will be three take-home essays and a take-home final exam. Due dates for
the exams are indicated in the syllabus. Make-up exams will only be given for university
accepted excuses, and late papers will be marked down a third of a grade for each day
late (i.e. from a B to a B-). The first essay is worth 10 percent of your overall grade, the
next two essays are each worth 20 percent of your overall grade and the final exam is
worth 30 percent.
In addition, attendance and participation are required parts of the course and are
worth 10 percent of your grade. This portion of your grade is based on active and
informed participation as measured by: (1) attending class consistently, (2) completing
the reading assignments before coming to class, (3) contributing thoughtfully to class
discussions, (4) listening actively and respectfully to other students and the instructor.
While disagreement is encouraged and expected in a class that deals with politics and
public policy, disagreement must always be respectful and thoughtful.
Brief class assignments will be worth the final 10 percent of your grade. Many
classes will begin with a written reaction to the reading that was assigned that day.
These written reactions will be submitted at the end of class. They are a way to
demonstrate that you have completed the reading assignment, and they will help jump
start your thinking for the day’s discussion. In addition, you will sometimes be asked to
prepare answers to specific discussion questions before coming to class.
COURSE POLICIES:
All courses offered at Bentley University reflect our institution’s commitment to a set of
core values and practices. The links below will take you to full explanations of our
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policies and procedures related to accommodations and equitable learning
environments. As a student, you are expected to review and be familiar with each of
these policies:
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Bentley’s honor code and academic integrity system
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Equity and bias reporting forms and procedures
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Student Disability Accommodations
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Religious observances
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Bentley’s core values
Diversity and Inclusion
In a class about politics and government, we will necessarily talk about issues about
which we have different, sometimes strongly held, views. My goal is to create an
inclusive educational environment in which different experiences and perspectives can
be expressed and heard in ways that enhance our learning. For this to happen, we
need to be thoughtful and respectful in all our interactions and adhere to Bentley
standards of appropriate conduct, known as the Bentley Core Values. Throughout the
semester, I welcome any suggestions or feedback you have about how to make the
class a positive and open environment for all.
Academic Integrity
All students are expected to adhere to Bentley’s Academic Integrity policy which
includes Bentley’s Honor Code (details on the policy can be found in the Undergraduate
Student Handbook, and Bentley’s academic integrity course page on Blackboard into
which all students and faculty are enrolled). The essence of the policy is that you should
not represent someone else’s work as your own (no plagiarism, no cheating on exams,
no illicit collaboration on projects, etc.). This also means that the use of artificial
intelligence programs to paraphrase or generate content is strictly prohibited and
constitutes an academic integrity violation in this course.
Failure to adhere to the policy can have serious consequences, including course failure,
suspension, or even expulsion from the university. The best way to avoid a problem is
to consult with me before taking an action that might constitute a violation.
Student Use of Course Materials
All course materials, including library reserves, are for teaching purposes for this course
during this term only. You may NOT reproduce these materials to distribute outside of
class. Lectures and course materials, including PowerPoint presentations, outlines,
tests, and similar materials are protected by copyright even if there is no copyright
notice on the material. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for
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your own use. You may NOT reproduce or distribute these materials publicly, without
the instructor’s express written consent.
REQUIRED TEXTS: Available in the Bentley University Bookstore. Electronic
versions available through Amazon (Kindle), University of Chicago Press, and
Princeton University Press.
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Andrea Louise Campbell. Trapped in America’s Safety Net: One Family’s Struggle
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press), 2014.
R. Douglas Arnold. Fixing Social Security: The Politics of Reform in a Polarized Age
(Princeton: Princeton University Press), 2022.
Other readings (marked with an *) are available through the course site on
Brightspace or as hyperlinks.
SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
I. INTRODUCTION: SOCIAL POLICY IN THE U.S.
Monday, January 22
Introduction
Thursday, January 25
Social Policy: What it is (and what it isn’t)
Andrea Louise Campbell. Trapped in America’s Safety Net: One Family’s Struggle
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2014), Prologue, Chapters 1-2.
Mon. Jan. 29
Social Policy: What it is (and what it isn’t)
Campbell, Chapters 3-4.
Tuesday January 30
**Extra Credit Opportunity**
Attend the MLK Day session: “The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about
Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It)” (In-Person or Virtual)
from 1:45-3:00pm. Submit reflection via Brightspace.
Thurs. Feb. 1
U.S. Social Policy in International Context
Campbell, Chapters 5-6.
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Mon. Feb. 5
The Submerged Welfare State
*Suzanne Mettler. The Submerged Welfare State: How Invisible Government Policies
Undermine American Democracy (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011),
Chapters 1 & 2.
Thurs. Feb. 8
ESSAY #1
Submit Essay #1 via Brightspace by the end of the day
II. AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM? EXPLAINING SOCIAL POLICY IN THE U.S.
Mon. Feb. 12
The Role of Ideas
*Jeff Fuhrer. The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy
Broke our Economy (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2023), pp.17-53.
Thurs. Feb. 15
The Role of Institiutions
*Sven Steinmo and Jon Watts, “It’s the Institutions, Stupid! Why Comprehensive
National Health Insurance Always Fails in America,” Journal of Health Politics, Policy
and Law 20, no. 2 (1995): 329–372.
Mon. Feb. 19
The Role of Race & Gender
*Suzanne Mettler. Divided Citizens: Gender and Federalism in New Deal Public Policy
(Ithica: Cornell University Press, 1998), Chapter 6.
Thurs. Feb. 22
American Exceptionalism and Health Care
*James A. Morone. “Private Health Insurance: Tax Breaks, Regulation, and Politics” in
Daniel Beland, Christopher Howard, & Kimberly J. Morgan. Eds. Oxford Handbook of
U.S. Social Policy. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015).
*“The Fix for American Health Care Can be Found in Europe.” The Economist. August
10, 2017.
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Mon. Feb. 26
Ideas, Institutions, and the Case of the ACA
*Barack Obama. “A President Looks Back on his Toughest Fight.” The New Yorker.
November 2, 2020.
Recommended: *Atul Gawande. “Is Health Care a Right?” The New Yorker. October 2,
2017.
Thurs. Feb. 29
Race and the ACA
Michener, J. (2020). Race, Politics, and the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Health
Politics, Policy and Law, 45(4), 547–566. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-8255481.
Mon. March 4
ESSAY #2
Submit Essay #2 via Brightspace by the end of the day.
III. SOCIAL POLICY AND THE POLITICS OF POVERTY
Thurs. March 7
Narratives and Policy Making
*Reading TBD
Mon. March 11 & Thurs. March 14
Mon. March 18
SPRING BREAK
Who is Poor?
Frontline Documentary. “Growing Up Poor in America.” September 8, 2020.
Thurs. March 21
Poverty, Race, and Public Opinion
*Martin Gilens. "How the Poor Became Black; The Racialization of Poverty in the Mass
Media." In Race and the Politics of Welfare Reform, edited by Sanford F. Schram, Joe
Soss, and Richard C. Fording. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press, 2003.
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Mon. March 25
Gender, Race and the “End of Welfare”
* Joe Soss, Sanford F. Schram, Thomas P. Vartanian, and Erin O'Brien. “The Hard Line
and the Color Line: Race, Welfare, and the Roots of Get-Tough Reform.” In Race and
the Politics of Welfare Reform, edited by Sanford F. Schram, Joe Soss, and Richard C.
Fording. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press, 2003.
Thurs. March 28
Work and the End of Welfare
*Kathryn J. Edin & H. Luke Shaefer. $2.00 A Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America
(Boston: Mariner Books, 2015), excerpt.
Mon. April 1
Making Work Pay: EITC
*Sarah Halpern-Meekin et al. It’s Not Like I’m Poor: How Working Families Make Ends
Meet in a Post-Welfare World (Oakland: University of California Press, 2015), excerpts.
Thurs. April 4
Universal Basic Income
*Congressional Quarterly Researcher. “Universal Basic Income.” March 6, 2020.
Mon. April 8
ESSAY #3
Submit Essay #3 via Brightspace by the end of the day.
V. CURRENT DEBATES: CAREGIVING AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Thurs. April 11
Work-Family Policy
*Congressional Quarterly Researcher. “Caregiving Crunch.” November 1, 2019.
Mon. April 15
PATRIOTS DAY
Thurs. April 18
Social Security: How It Works
R. Douglas Arnold. Fixing Social Security: The Politics of Reform in a Polarized Age
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2022), Chapter 1 & 2.
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Mon. April 22
Policy Proposals: Incremental and Reinvention
Arnold, Ch. 4 & 5.
Thurs. April 25
The Politics of Reform
Arnold, Ch. 10 & 11.
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Mon. April 29
The Future of Social Policy
Review final exam instructions (on Brightspace).
Thurs. May 2
FINAL EXAM (Due at 4:50pm via Brightspace)
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