Workshop on Comparative and International Social Policy Theories and Methods
Advances in Research and Practice in International Development Studies and Social Policy
Three Day PhD and Early Career Academic Workshop on Social Policy in Developing Contexts
24th -26th May 2017
The workshop aims to encapsulate some of the most recent cutting-edge discussions emerging in the fields of international development studies and social policy. Traditionally, international development studies and social policy have been seen as distinct disciplines. The major thrust of international development studies was on issues of poverty, social exclusion and social problems in developing countries whereas much of the social policy concentrated on the relative measures of poverty and social exclusion in advanced capitalist countries. Improved economic growth rates, changes in global politics, and social policy innovations found throughout the world have facilitated greater intersections between these two disciplines. Primarily, this workshop will be aimed at doctoral students and early career academics working in the fields of international development studies and social policy and will seek to create avenues for mutual engagement.
The aim is to provide participants with the opportunity to consider key issues such as ‘what is the meaning of Social Policy in a development context?’, ‘how can the disciplines of Social Policy and International Development learn from each other?’, and ‘how can both contribute to social sciences responses to global challenges?’ It will do so by:
- Discussing key emerging social issues in developing countries, such as human well-being, welfare, equality, capabilities, freedom and inclusive growth;
- Considering the relationship between newly emerging poverty reduction and welfare programmes and real-life social issues. Some relevant programmes include India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act 2005; Brazil’s Bolsa Escola (‘school bag’) and South Africa’s Child Support Grant (CSG).
Other objectives of the workshop are to:
- Discuss the applicability of social policy theory and research methodology in developing countries;
- Examine specific concepts and issues such as child poverty, social exclusion, gender equality and civil society mobilization, in contemporary Social Policy and International Development S
- Introduce key methodological approaches in contemporary Social Policy and International Development Studies including debates about the merits of qualitative, quantitative and systematic mixed methods approaches.
- Provide an innovative theoretical and practical framework to ensure participants’ own research findings can be better used to inform policy decision-making.
The workshop has received sponsorship from the Social Policy Association and the Centre for Development Studies, University of Bath http://www.bath.ac.uk/cds/.
The number of participants is restricted to 20 please secure your place early.
Last Date for Submission of Abstracts: February 28 2017
Submission of Abstracts:
- Abstracts should not exceed more than 1000 words.
- It should contain details of the participant’s ongoing PhD or research details.
- It should include the details on institutional affiliation of the author.
Please submit your abstracts for review to knakray@jgu.edu.in
Venue: Willow, Habitat World, at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (Entry from gate number 3 on Vardhman Marg) http://www.indiahabitat.org/page?view=location
The Registration Fee has been waivered. Participants are required to make arrangements for their own accommodation and transportation to the venue.
For communication with the local organizer and for general inquiries on how to join the Indian Social Policy Network please contact: knakray@jgu.edu.in
Organising Team:
Joe Devine is the Head of Department, Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath (UK).
Keerty Nakray is an Associate Professor at Jindal Global Law School, NCR New Delhi and a Visiting Fellow at the Feinstein International Centre, Tufts University (US).
Nick Ellison is the Head of Department of Social Policy and Social Work at University of York (UK).
Stefan Kühner obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, United Kingdom. He joined Lingnan University in August 2016.