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Social Justice and the Global Community
I. We Live in a Global Macro Environment
A. Globalization: The process of global integration in which diverse peoples, economies, cultures, and political processes are increasingly subjected to international influences (Midgley)
1. It is essential for social workers to have an international perspective and understanding to be effective practitioners in today’s world
2. A global focus concerns looking beyond your immediate local, state, and even national environment
3. Advocacy: The act of speaking up, pushing for change, or pleading the causes of clients and those in need (Hoefer)
4. Social justice: Upholding the condition that in a perfect world all citizens would have identical rights, protections, opportunities, obligations, and social benefits regardless of their backgrounds and membership in diverse groups
B. Highlight 12.1: Six Core Ethical Values for Social Workers (NASW)
1. Service
2. Social justice
3. Dignity and worth of the person
4. Importance of human relationships
5. Integrity
6. Competence
II. Global Issues Affect Us All
A. Poverty and economic inequality
1. Poverty: The condition where people maintain a standard of living below the minimum needed for the maintenance of adequate diet, health, and shelter (Eitzen & Zinn)
2. Income: The amount of money a person makes in a given year
3. Wealth: The total value of that person’s assets: real estate and personal property, stocks, bonds, cash, and so forth (Coleman & Kerbo)
4. The complexity of defining poverty
a. Absolute poverty: A lack of basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and income (Leon-Guerrero)
b. Relative poverty: A situation in which some people fail to achieve the average income or lifestyle enjoyed by the rest of society
c. Official poverty line: What is considered by the Social Security Administration to be the minimal amount of money required for a subsistence level of life
5. The widening gap in the United States
a. Among all industrial nations, the United States has the largest gap between rich and poor (Mooney, et al.)
b. The highest-earning 20 percent of U.S. families (with income of at least $94,151 a year and averaging about $160,000) received 47.7 percent of all income (Macionis)
c. The lowest-paid 20 percent (with income below $20,000 a year and averaging $14,021) received just 4.2 percent of all income (Macionis)
d. The highest-earning 20 percent of families earn almost as much as the remaining 80 percent of families combined (Macionis)
e. If average workers’ pay had kept up with the increases in Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) pay, workers would be earning $184,000 a year (Murphy). In 1974, CEOs made 44 times what the average worker did; in 2003 they made 301 times what the average worker did (Murphy)
f. Females and people of color are significantly more likely to be poor
g. Poverty levels vary by state
6. Global poverty
a. The World Bank sets the following poverty threshold (Mooney, et al)
1) $1 per day to compare poverty in most of the developing world (third world)
2) $2 per day in Latin America
3) $4 per day in Eastern Europe
4) $14.50 per day in industrial countries
7. Problems related to poverty
B. Global conflict
1. In recent times, the world has been experiencing upwards of 30 civil wars at any one time, with very high casualty figures, especially among civilians (Cox & Pawar)
2. It is clear that rebuilding a society after conflict is a complex, hugely expensive, and extremely difficulty undertaking (Cox & Pawar)
C. Forced migration of people in need (Ahearn)
1. Displaced people: Those people who have been uprooted within their own country
2. Refugees: People who have crossed national boundaries in search of refuge, usually out of a fear of persecution
3. Immigrants: Those individuals who have been granted legal permanent residence in a country not their own
4. Migrants: Those people, usually workers, who have temporary permission to live in a country, but plan to return to their country of origin
5. Illegal aliens: People who migrate illegally to another country
6. By 2010 children of immigrants will account for 22 percent of the school-age population (Fix & Passel)
III. Community and Social Development
A. Community development: Efforts to mobilize people who are directly affected by a community condition (that is, the “victims,” the unaffiliated, the unorganized, and the nonparticipating) into groups and organizations to enable them to take action on the social problems and issues that concern them (Rivera & Erlich)
B. Development: Growth, maturation, and strengthening
C. Theoretical functions of communities (Warren)
1. Production-distribution-consumption: Relates to local participation in the process of producing, distributing, and consuming those goods and services that are a part of daily living and access to which is desirable in the immediate locality
2. Socialization: A process by which society or one of its constituent social units transmits prevailing knowledge, social values, and behavior patterns to its members
3. Social control: The process through which a group influences the behavior of its members toward conformity with its norms
4. Social participation: The involvement of citizens in social, political, and economic processes
5. Mutual support: Encouragement, assistance, caring, and cooperation among people in communities
D. Community development practice
1. Three basic principles
a. Because community development emphasizes citizen participation, community development practice generally focuses on improving the functioning of the community
b. Community development most frequently involves improving the functioning of organizations in the community so that they might undertake their functions and serve citizens more effectively and efficiently
c. It is critical to establish goals that residents have in common and mutually support
2. Examples of community development
E. Social development
1. Social development: A process of planned social change designed to promote people’s welfare within the context of a comprehensive process of economic development (Midgley)
2. Highlight 12.2: A Feminist Perspective on Global Development (Wetzel)
a. Standard 1: Raising consciousness regarding gender roles and the importance and worth of every female
b. Standard 2: Forming interdisciplinary professional partnerships with poor women and training indigenous trainers to serve their own communities
c. Standard 3: Teaching women that both personal development and action, as well as collective social development and action, are essential if their lives are to change for the better
3. Distorted development
IV. International Social Work
A. Four dimensions inherent in international social work
1. Internationally related domestic practice and advocacy
2. Professional exchange
3. International practice
4. International policy development and advocacy
V. International Social Work Organizations
A. International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
B. International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
C. Other global organizations dedicated to social welfare and social justice
1. International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)
2. International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD)
D. Highlight 12.3: International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs)
1. International Red Cross
2. Amnesty International
VI. Social Work Values and Cross-Cultural Values in Global Perspective
A. Fundamental global social work values (Verschelden)
1. Primary importance of the individual
2. Respect and appreciation for differences
3. Commitment to social justice and the well-being of all in society
4. Willingness to persist despite frustration
B. Highlight 12.4: Cultural Differences in an Organizational Context (Durbin)
1. Individualism versus collectivism
a. Individualism: A mental set in which people see themselves first as individuals and believe that their own interests take priority
b. Collectivism: A feeling that the group and society receive top priority
2. Materialism versus concern for others
a. Materialism: The value that material things and money are extremely important, much more so than humanitarian or spiritual pursuits
b. Concern for others: Genuine, active concern for other people’s well-being and a focus on the importance of interpersonal relationships
3. Formality versus informality
a. Formality: A country that attaches considerable importance to tradition, ceremony, social rules, and rank
b. Informality: A casual attitude toward tradition, ceremony, social rules, and rank
4. Urgent time orientation versus casual time orientation
a. Urgent time orientation: People perceive time as a scarce resource and tend to be impatient
b. Casual time orientation: People view time as an unlimited and unending resource and tend to be patient
VII. What You Can Do on the Behalf of Global Social Justice
A. Vote for political candidates who appreciate the importance of global cooperation to address human rights issues and solve social ills
B. Continue to become more knowledgeable about global issues and educate others including legislators about the issues’ significance
C. Become politically involved yourself by actively participating in political debate and working to support political candidates
D. Join organizations that seek to help needy and hurting people around the world
E. Volunteer your time to support the work of international helping organizations
F. Become a macro practice social worker and participate in community development in the international context
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