POL 479: The Welfare State has been seen as a 'third way' between capitalism and communism. This third way has been characterized by governments in Scandinavia, Western Europe, and Canada. It features what is commonly called 'cradle to grave' guarantees to the citizens by the state. The state condones the acquisition of wealth but utilizes the taxing mechanism to redistribute wealth and services. This course will examine the political structures, processes, and policies of several nations that are or have been 'Welfare States' - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Canada, Great Britain, France, and Germany, one quasi-welfare state: The United States, and four potential welfare states: Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Poland. Students will make presentations in class and will produce an annotated bibliography and one research paper of 20 pages.