On 26th May 2019, the ninth seminar of the Fudan-LSE lecture series was held at Fudan University. The lecture was jointly organized by the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP), School of International Relations & Public Affairs, and School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University.

Professor Timothy Hildebrandt, an associate professor from Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, gave a lecture entitled “Why is comparative social policy prominently important and difficult: The case of China and England.” The lecture focused on the significance, difficulties, and research methodologies of comparative social policy. Professor Hildebrandt pointed out that global policymakers generally face new challenges of human development. The challenges can be classified into several types: the “evil” problems represented by the increase of poverty groups and the deficiency of infrastructure, “progress paradox” problems exemplified by excessive development and mental health issues, and eye-catching problems like the development of minority group.

Professor Hildebrandt argued that the rise of populism and exceptionalism impedes governments’ handling of social problems. Comparative social policy research is quite sensitive to populism that tends to attack experts and expertise. Geopolitics and exceptionalism not only hinder inter-state cooperation, but also impede the comparative analysis on social problems. That social policy researchers also need to be wary of their own exceptionalism. Many concepts and theories used by researchers fail to jump out of their own welfare state framework. With increased researchers being aware of the diversity of concepts and theories, comparative social policy research will become more important. However, diversity does not mean willfully conducting comparative analysis and directly transplant policies of developed countries to undeveloped countries.

At last, Professor Hildebrandt proposed some academic frontier issues in the comparative study of social policy between China and the UK, such as privatization, family oriented, and big society, and had a heated discussion with the present teachers and students around these issues.