Themes: Citizenship
Objectives
- To make participants understand about the differences of social welfare state structures
- To make participants aware about the role of state, family and private sector
- To increase the knowledge of the youth workers for tackling with failure the social welfare structure
- To increase the participants knowledge on the impact of the social welfare structure in the life of young people
Duration and Planning
- 15 minutes : Presentation of Social Welfare Structures
- 60 minutes : Case Cards – Role Play
- 15 minutes : Debriefing
Materials
- Flipchart
- Board Markers
Recommended Method
The facilitator provides the following structure of Esping-Andersen concerning to the social welfare systems to make the participants discuss about the differentiation of the social welfare structures and their impact on the lives of the individuals.
| Liberal | Social Democratic | Conservative | |
| Role of : | |||
| Family | Marginal | Marginal | Central |
| Market | Central | Marginal | Marginal |
| State | Marginal | Central | Subsidiary |
| Welfare State : | |||
| Dominant mode of solidarity | Individual | Universal | Kinship, Collectivist |
| Dominant focus of solidarity | Market | State | Family |
| Degree of decommodification | Minimal | Maximum | High |
| Degree of defamilisation | Medium | High | Low |
| Extent of redistribution | Low | High | Medium |
By using the table above, the facilitator explains the differences between the social welfare structures. Later on, the participants are asked to create a theatre piece for 5 minutes by referring to each social welfare structure state regarding to its relation with market, family and state by addressing the issues in each social rights area : education, health, housing and employment.
The participants are provided with the case cards to create a role play concerning to the situations in each social welfare state and think about the consequences of the social welfare states in the end of the session.
The participants are provided with 30 minutes to develop 5 minutes play concerning to the life of a young person in a specific country. During this process, the participants develop their theatre pieces and work on the analysis of the life stories of the young people in the countries indicated in the cases. They develop solutions as well where the young people can intervene with their situation with the help of the state from their perspectives to provide a discussion ground for the policy reviews implemented as well as the situation of the young people. After 30 minutes, the participating groups present their theatre pieces.
This process is aimed to make the participants aware about the consequences of the social welfare systems and their impact on the lives of the young people and their autonomy. After the presentation of the theatre pieces, the facilitator asks :
- Did you realise that these situations can happen to you or already happened?
- What did you think about while enacting the case?
- What would be the solutions concerning to the issues in the particular cases?
- Which young person was better off in your perception and Why?
- What do you think differences of the social welfare systems and how they approach the young people impacts to our lives or not?
- How do you think we can have intergenerational justice by changing social welfare structures?
- What would be the best social welfare structure that helps the young people and gives them autonomy?
Later on, the participants are asked to classify the countries involved in the project ( Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey ) according to the theatre plays that they have done. It is important to share the information with the participants to make them understand about the social welfare structures as provided in the first stage of the activity by using the theoretical framework of this book for the facilitator to achieve the learning aims defined within the method.
Facilitators Note
The facilitator should use the following case cards and familiarize him/herself about the social welfare structures in each country for that the theoretical framework within the book can be used. In addition to that, the facilitator should provide examples from the real-life situations and how it impacts on the lives of the young people when it comes to the social welfare structures.
Case Cards
| John, United States John, a single father living in Ohio, works two part-time jobs to make ends meet. Despite his efforts, his income isn’t enough to support his family. He turns to government assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). John’s application for Medicaid is approved, but the process is tedious and invasive, requiring him to provide detailed financial information. He feels a sense of shame and stigma, as some of his friends and neighbors view welfare recipients negatively. While Medicaid covers his children’s healthcare, John still struggles with his own medical bills, as he lacks employer-provided health insurance.Despite receiving SNAP benefits, John often finds himself at the food bank by the end of the month. The benefits help but aren’t sufficient to cover all their needs. The limited unemployment benefits he received during a brief period of joblessness were not enough to keep him afloat, forcing him to take on more debt. John appreciates the help he gets but dreams of a system that offers more robust support and less stigma, allowing him to focus on building a better future for his children without constant financial worry. |
| Hans,Germany Hans, a mechanical engineer in Stuttgart, has enjoyed a stable career in the automotive industry. His employer provides comprehensive social insurance, covering health, unemployment, and pension benefits, thanks to Germany’s corporatist welfare system.When Hans’s company undergoes restructuring, he loses his job. However, his unemployment insurance provides 70% of his previous salary, giving him time to search for a new position without immediate financial stress. His health insurance continues uninterrupted, ensuring he and his family remain covered. Hans’s wife, Maria, stays home to care for their young children, a common arrangement supported by Germany’s family-centric welfare policies. The family receives child allowances that help cover the costs of raising their children. While Hans appreciates the stability the welfare system provides, he also notices its impact on gender roles. Maria feels societal pressure to stay home, even though she dreams of returning to her career someday. Despite this, Hans and Maria feel secure knowing that the social insurance system supports them in times of need, preserving their standard of living and providing a safety net for the future. |
| Elin, Sweden Elin, a teacher in Stockholm, benefits greatly from Sweden’s social democratic welfare system. When she gives birth to her first child, she takes advantage of the country’s generous parental leave policies, sharing the leave with her partner, Johan. They each take six months off, fully paid, to bond with their baby and adjust to parenthood. Elin and Johan appreciate the high-quality, subsidized daycare available when they return to work. Knowing their child is in a safe, stimulating environment allows them to focus on their careers without guilt or financial strain. Healthcare is another area where Elin sees the benefits of the welfare state. She and her family receive comprehensive healthcare services at no extra cost, ensuring they stay healthy without worrying about medical bills. Elin values the strong social safety net and the emphasis on equality. She sees her taxes as an investment in the well-being of all citizens, contributing to low poverty rates and high social mobility. Elin’s confidence in the system allows her to plan for the future, knowing that Sweden’s welfare policies provide security and support at every life stage. |
| Claire, France Claire, a nurse in Paris, experiences the best of both worlds in France’s hybrid welfare system. She benefits from a comprehensive social insurance scheme that provides health coverage, pensions, and unemployment benefits, combined with universal welfare policies. When Claire’s mother falls ill, she is relieved to know that France’s healthcare system will cover the necessary treatments without significant out-of-pocket expenses. This universal access to healthcare ensures her mother receives high-quality care, regardless of their financial situation.As a working mother, Claire also takes advantage of France’s extensive family benefits. She receives child allowances that help cover the costs of childcare and education, allowing her to balance her career and family life more effectively. The paid parental leave she took after her son’s birth enabled her to spend valuable time with him during his early months. Claire appreciates the stability and support the French welfare system provides. While she pays higher taxes, she sees the value in the comprehensive safety net that benefits all citizens, reducing inequality and promoting social cohesion. Claire feels fortunate to live in a country where the state plays an active role in ensuring the well-being of its people.- |
| Giovanni, Italy Giovanni, a construction worker in Naples, navigates the complexities of Italy’s transitional welfare system. While he benefits from universal healthcare, he notices significant regional disparities in the quality of services. Northern regions tend to have better facilities and shorter wait times compared to the South.When Giovanni’s company faces financial difficulties, he is laid off. The unemployment benefits he receives are limited and vary depending on regional policies. He relies heavily on his family for support, as is common in Southern Italy, where strong familial bonds often compensate for gaps in the welfare system.Giovanni’s father, a retired public sector worker, receives a generous pension, highlighting the contrast within the system. Giovanni worries about the sustainability of such benefits, given Italy’s economic challenges and aging population.Despite these issues, Giovanni values the healthcare he receives and the pension system that supports his parents. He dreams of a more equitable system that reduces regional disparities and provides stronger support for individuals like him, ensuring a more stable future for all Italians.- |
Additional Information and Readings
1. Esping-Andersen, G. (1989). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Polity Press.
2. Moreno, Luis & Marí-Klose, Pau. (2013). Youth, family change and welfare arrangements: Is the South still so different?. European Societies. 15. 10.1080/14616696.2013.836400.
