The claim that large-scale migration and the maintenance of generous welfare systems are irreconcilable is one of the most heated points of contention in political debates and academic research alike. The seminar will critically assess the theoretical assumptions underlying this claim and review the available empirical evidence.
The seminar departs from a general discussion of how different welfare regimes structure benefit access and, by extension, social solidarity. It then moves on to discuss, first, how migration and the increasing diversification of societies may affect majority support for the welfare state and, second, whether welfare states may affect migration themselves.
Students should be prepared to read and actively discuss the assigned literature before attending each seminar session. Since most of the empirical literature provides evidence based on quantitative analyses, a basic understanding of statistical methods commonly used in the social sciences is necessary. |
