Social policy has long been shaped by the global flow of ideas, as ideologies and models have been exchanged voluntarily between countries; imposed through processes of colonisation; or required by external donors in the name of reconstruction or development. Yet, social policy is often understood as the policies, processes and services provided by governments within national borders, without sufficient consideration of the global context.

This course examines social policy in the global context of the twenty first century. We will analyse the impact of ideas, models and approaches developed and exchanged within the international arena on social policy within nations. We will also explore the ways in which approaches to social policy are transferred and shared between countries. We examine key international trends in social policy and the values on which they are based – as well as key critiques of and opposition to those trends. This course will include some comparative analysis of the influence and response to globalised ideas, models and approaches across different countries.

In recent years there have been challenges to globalisation and scepticism about the role of global actors. We will explore how and why global ideas around social policy are resisted by some actors. 

Global Social Policy moves away from the traditional silos of ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries, whereby social policy is considered the domain of the former and development the domain of the latter. Rather, we will examine key approaches to social policy, evidence on ‘what works’, and major debates and controversies across the constructs of the ‘Global North’ and the ‘Global South'.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Explain and analyse the ways in which the global flow of ideas has shaped and continues to shape social policy within and across nations.
2. Understand the governance structures for, and effectiveness of, global social policy-making.
3. Appraise the (sometimes competing) agendas and roles of major global actors in the area of social policy.
4. Analyse key ideas and objectives that underpin the social policy models advocated by key international agencies.
5. Critically examine and contribute to major debates and evidence on global social policy.

Research-Led Teaching

My research focuses on issues of social justice and social rights, with particular emphasis on four broad areas: (i) the interplay between formal and informal social protection and its impact on wellbeing, poverty reduction, and social inclusion; (ii) social policy in conflict, fragile, and politically contested settings; (iii) the role of domestic and international actors, institutions, and global policy frameworks in shaping social policy development in the welfare regimes of Global South; and (iv) the application of classical and quantum machine learning methods to social policy analysis.

A significant strand of my research examines the interaction between formal and informal welfare systems, including the role of colonial legacies, domestic and international actors and institutions, community networks, kinship structures, religious institutions, and informal support mechanisms in mediating access to social protection. I also explore how social policy operates in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where state capacity is often uneven and informal institutions play a central role in welfare provision. More recently, my research has expanded into computational social policy analysis, including the application of classical and quantum machine learning techniques to the study of welfare regimes, public sentiment, and policy processes.

This course focuses on the role that international organisations and actors play in shaping social policy, and the ways in which policy ideas travel across different national and regional contexts. It is also informed by my research on how international ideas, global frameworks, and transnational policy agendas shape policies affecting marginalised and disadvantaged individuals and social groups, particularly in regions marked by structural inequalities, institutional weaknesses, and systems failures.

Field Trips

Sadly, we have no field trips!

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Examination Material or equipment

There is no specific material or equipment required, expect a laptop or computer. If you are in the online class, your computer will need to have a microphone. You will need internet access, as some of our class activities use online platforms. Please contact Dr Mumtaz if you have any concerns.

Required Resources

Recorded Lectures

Pre-recorded lectures for each weekly topic will be available on the Canvas site. These lectures are designed to support your engagement with class discussions and enhance your overall learning experience in the course. You are expected to listen to the lectures for each topic before attending class.

Readings

There is no prescribed textbook for Global Social Policy; however, key readings for each topic will be available on the Canvas site.

Most topics include several readings, and the Canvas site will clearly indicate which readings are essential and which are optional. While it is not compulsory to read every article, the more you engage with the readings, the more you will gain from the course. You are also encouraged to go beyond the recommended readings - particularly for assessment tasks - and engage more broadly with the academic literature.

Of course, if you do not undertake the readings, you are unlikely to gain the maximum benefit from the course.

Recommended Resources

Guest Lectures and Recorded Discussions

An important aspect of this course is the range of guest lectures and recorded discussions featuring world-leading academics in the field of Global Social Policy. Some guest lectures will be delivered live online, recorded, and made available on the Canvas site during the relevant teaching week. You are strongly encouraged to attend the guest lectures, as they provide a valuable opportunity to engage with leading scholars in the field and participate in further discussion and debate.

In addition, a number of recorded discussions with academics from around the globe will also be posted on Canvas. These resources can be particularly helpful for your assessment tasks and for developing a broader understanding of key debates in Global Social Policy.

Whether you are studying on campus or remotely, a variety of online platforms and digital resources will be used throughout the course. These may include recorded lectures and videos, email and messaging tools for communication, Canvas discussion forums, and online submission systems for assessments and other course-related activities.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1What is Global Social Policy?This introductory session establishes the foundational scaffolding for the entire course. In this session, we will explore some of the core concepts of social policy, globalisation, and global social policy, as well as the purpose of global social policy. Moving beyond traditional national silos and the distinction between “developed” and “developing” countries, the session provides a foundation for analysing social policy within its contemporary global context. The session will also provide an overview of the course structure, expectations, and assessment tasks.	Details of each session, including readings and pre-recorded lectures, will be available on the course Canvas site.
2	Week 2Ideas and Forms of Global Social PolicyIn this session, we will examine the ideas and mechanisms that shape and influence social policy across the world. In particular, we will explore how social policy is affected by the global flow of ideas and ideologies, whether exchanged voluntarily between countries, imposed through processes of colonisation, or promoted by external donors and international organisations in the name of development or reconstruction.
3	Week 3Rights and Global Social PolicyFrom Weeks 3 to 5, we will examine the three Rs identified by Bob Deacon as central to global social policy: rights, regulation, and redistribution.In this session, we will focus on the place of human rights within thinking about global social policy, exploring the origins of human rights and related debates. From this basis, we will explore some of the major debates that underpin thinking about social policy globally, including the role and responsibilities of key actors in advancing human rights. We will then turn our attention to the ways in which key global actors have used ideas of human rights and how human rights have shaped key instruments of global social policy, including the Sustainable Development Goals. We will also explore the ways in which ideas about human rights have “travelled” globally.
4	Week 4Regulation and Global Social PolicyIn this session, we examine efforts to provide global regulation to advance global social policy aims. We will explore the role of international labour standards and other attempts at global regulation, and assess how successful they have been in providing global regulation.
5	Week 5Global RedistributionThe redistribution of income or wealth is central to social policy but usually occurs within and by national states through taxation and transfers. We will assess the extent to which redistribution can, and does, occur globally focusing on arguments around global taxation, the role of development assistance, and migration and foreign remittances. We will also look at the rise of philanthropy and philanthrocapitalists, asking whether this is an effective means of redistribution. In addition, we will examine the theories that seek to explain how and why policies move across national borders, focusing on the factors and actors that facilitate policy transfer, learning, and exchange, as well as the actors that seek to shape agendas.
6	Week 6Resistance to Global Social Policy IdeasSo far in the course, we have focused on the three Rs identified by Bob Deacon as central to global social policy: rights, regulation, and redistribution. In this session, we will add a fourth R to our discussions: resistance. We will initially examine the contestation of ideas among key global actors. We will then explore the ways in which some actors are pushing back against the ideas of universal human rights, global regulation, and redistribution and the implications this has for global social policy. We will also ask whether “deglobalisation” is a phenomenon that will shape social policy globally.
7	Week 7Regional Social Policy I Building directly on the conceptual frameworks examined in Weeks 2–6, these sessions apply those ideas empirically to explore how global social policy ideas and instruments have been adopted, adapted, or contested across different regions of the world.In Weeks 7 and 8, we will examine the influence of key international and regional actors, the processes of policy transfer, and the varied responses of national governments within different regional social policy contexts. We will analyse how global ideas relating to rights, regulation, redistribution, and resistance have both shaped and been shaped by policy approaches across different regions of the world.
8	Week 8Regional Social Policy II Continuing our regional focus, this session examines developments in regional social policy.
9	Week 9Social Policy in ConflictThis session explores the challenges of social policy in conflict-affected settings. We will examine how global social policy principles are applied or contested during armed conflict, post-conflict reconstruction, and humanitarian emergencies. The roles of international organisations, NGOs, and other global actors will be critically assessed, along with debates on governance effectiveness and “what works or does not work” in fragile contexts.
10	Week 10Global Social Policy ConferenceThis session forms the first part of the Global Social Policy Conference and is a required component for successful course completion. Students will present critical analyses of a specific policy, program, or strategy adopted by a major global social policy actor. These presentations enable deep engagement with the global flow of ideas, the agendas and effectiveness of international agencies, and major debates in the field, while fostering peer learning and the sharing of comparative insights. The conference provides an extended opportunity for critical examination and discussion of global social policy models, actor roles, policy transfer processes, and evidence on effectiveness, directly supporting all five learning outcomes.(Schedule and duration will depend on class size.)
11	Week 11Global Social Policy Conference (continued)The Global Social Policy Conference continues in Week 11 with further student presentations.(Schedule and duration will depend on class size.)
12	Week 12The Future of Global Social PolicyIn this concluding session, we will reflect on the major themes and insights explored throughout the course, as well as the student presentations delivered at the Global Social Policy Conference. The session will also explore emerging and future directions in global social policy and developments that may influence the future of global social policy, including climate change, the implications of artificial intelligence and technological change, and the rise of authoritarianism.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Short Quiz 1	5 %	10/08/2026	15/08/2026	1, 2, 3,4,5
Short Quiz 2	5 %	24/08/2026	27/08/2026	1, 2, 3,4,5
Conference Presentation	20 %	*	30/10/2026	1, 3, 4
Conference Reflection	20 %	04/11/2026	10/12/2026	1, 2, 4, 5
Analysis Paper	50 %	15/11/2026	10/12/2026	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation in all classes is expected. Attendance at and participation in the Global Social Policy conference presentations is required for course completion.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Short Quiz 1

5% of overall grade. Combination of short-answer and multiple-choice questions to be completed in 20 minutes online.

Assessment Task 2

Short Quiz 2

5% of overall grade.Combination of short-answer and multiple-choice questions to be completed in 20 minutes online.

Assessment Task 3

Conference Presentation

20% of overall grade.

The presentation is a group task. Groups will be formed in class, and you will be expected to work collaboratively outside class time. The presentation will focus on a policy or approach adopted by a key global social policy actor. In addition to delivering the presentation, each group is required to submit an abstract of 100 words. Abstracts are due one week before the conference, at the end of Week 9. Group presentations will take place in Weeks 10 and 11 and will be assessed on a group basis. The ANU Crawford School of Public Policy's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines apply to this assessment item.

DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE CANVAS SITE.

Assessment Task 4

Conference Reflection

20% of overall grade.

After the conference, you are asked to provide a 1000-word reflection on two other presentations excluding your own. While this is a reflection on what you have learned from the two presentations, you do need to draw on the relevant literature to support your reflections and how the presentations reinforced, challenged or perhaps even conflicted with your understanding of key concepts discussed in class and in the literature. The ANU Crawford School of Public Policy's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines apply to this assessment item.

DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE CANVAS SITE

Assessment Task 5

Analysis Paper

50% of overall grade.

In your analysis paper, you should critically analyse how rights, regulation, redistribution, and/or resistance has played out in regard to one issue in the area of global social policy.

In your analysis paper, you need to provide an overview of the issue, what position key global actors have taken with regard to rights, regulation, redistribution and/or resistance (noting you do not have to analyse all four Rs, but may focus on one, two or three of the Rs - depending on your issue), how the ideas were shaped, the mechanisms through which they were promoted or implemented, what the debates have been, and how the issue has influenced global policy within one country or region.

The word limit is 2,500 words, excluding references. The ANU Crawford School of Public Policy's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines apply to this assessment item.

DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE COURSE CANVAS SITE.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students