Self-determination: Lessons to be Learned from Social Work Practice in India

Correspondence to Dr F. K. Ejaz Research Associate Applied Research Institute Menorah Park Center for the Aging 27100 Cedar Road, Beachwood, OH 44122 USA. Summary Self-determination is a controversial principle in social workpractice. On the one hand it is accepted as being central tosocial work and stems from the broader philosophical issuesof autonomy and respect for the individual. On the other hand,there are many doubts about its implications for practice. Thisarticle examines how the Western social work principle of self-determinationis influenced by cultural beliefs and expectations in India. Twenty-six social workers participated in a qualitative studyon the influence of culture on casework practice in Bombay,India. Open-ended questions and case studies were used to examinehow culture specific problems were handled and how workers interpretedand used some of the principles of social work practice. Social workers believed that Indian clients expected to be guidedin a therapeutic relationship. Further, clients were generallyapathetic and fatalistic about circumstances in their lives.Indian social workers came across as being maestros at bridgingeast-west differences. They subtly fulfilled social and culturalexpectations and at the same time enabled clients to assumeenough autonomy to handle their own problems.     

Crossing Boundaries: Comparing Group Work in the United States and Australia

ABSTRACT

This article compares the teaching and practice of group work in Australia and the U.S., including data on both students and practitioners, group work content in selected schools of social work, the types of groups offered and client populations served. Implications for cross-cultural social work are discussed as are areas of future international collaboration and research.     

Conservative Ideas and Social Policy in the United States

This article explores social policy development in the United States since the beginning of the George W. Bush presidency. Starting from an analysis of the discourse about compassionate conservatism at the centre of the 2000 presidential campaign and proceeding to a discussion of the meaning of the more recent ownership society blueprint, it underlines the fragmented nature of the conservative policy agenda in the United States. Yet, the article suggests that, despite this fragmentation, the ideological dominance of the right and the related absence of needed reform in key policy areas are of great significance for the future of federal social policy. Overall, the article shows how paying close attention to the nature of conservative ideas improves our understanding of social policy development in the United States. As argued, the old liberal and the traditionalist sides of American conservatism have inspired distinct yet related blueprints and reform proposals that both promote a scaling-down of existing federal social programmes and a return to traditional forms of economic security (i.e. charity and personal savings). The article underlines the relationship between these blueprints and policy drift.     

社会工作两种视角的比较分析

从社会工作的发展历程来看，其实践先后经历了缺陷视角与优势视角两种模式，这两种模式关注的焦点与实践方式都有着很大的区别。伴随着对缺陷视角越来越多的质疑与批判，优势视角逐渐成为学术讨论的热点，更多的人提倡采用优势视角下的社会工作实践模式。为了更加全面、深人的认识和把握优势视角，对缺陷视角的全面深刻的认识不可或缺。本文将从视角假设、理论基础、社会工作者的角色及对社会工作的理解等方面对两种视角进行比较分析。     

Inflated States and Empty Theories in Social Work

Summary The recommended knowledge base of social work is seen to bewide-ranging on the one hand, and subject to divides and tensionson the other. This state of affairs is reviewed briefly. Anargument is then developed which maintains that only certaintypes of activity within the considerable range often identifiedas social work, offer a clear suggestion that the job whichis being described is that of social work. These various activitiesand practices appeal to different kinds of theory and knowledge.As the knowledge base and practical possibilities of the jobhave become increasingly elaborate and extensive, an argumentwhich recommends that social workers recover a simplier notionof what they are about also entails the idea that social workis a job which is seen to have necessary and definite limitsto its practice and theory.     

观点和政策塑造：中国与印度在美国的游说行动对比

在国际关系领域中,中印两国对美国国内决策的影响越来越突出。一种比较典型的影响途径是游说集团。尽管中印都经常采用这一方式,然而两国的游说行动还存在差异。按照理性主义的观点,一切行为的基本特征都是对自身利益最大化的精密计算。本文通过案例分析的归纳方法来考察中印采取的游说措施,并使用国别观察的方法来区分双方游说的共同点与不同点,最后分析印度游说成功的原因,并就中国游说行动的改善提出建议。     

美国社会科学家的地位

本文从美国社会科学家的资格、工作条件、就业前景,以及他们的收入、职业声望和权力方面详细阐述了当代美国社会科学家的地位,并与自然科学家的地位进行了比较。虽然美国社会科学家的研究具有相当大的独立性,但他们的地位归根结底取决于他们对于国家和社会的贡献以及这种贡献能否得到社会的承认。     

社会管理创新与社会工作发展研究

我国社会管理创新给社会工作发展提供了新的机遇,创新后的社会管理体制,不仅需要制定相应的社会管理政策,更需要具有专业性质的服务理念、方式和领域,社会工作成为社会管理创新的一个关键变革力量。社会工作通过管理理念、过程、内容和评估机制介入社会管理创新,使社会管理更加符合经济社会发展需求,促进社会和谐稳定。     

社会管理创新与社会工作发展研究

我国社会管理创新给社会工作发展提供了新的机遇,创新后的社会管理体制,不仅需要制定相应的社会管理政策,更需要具有专业性质的服务理念、方式和领域,社会工作成为社会管理创新的一个关键变革力量。社会工作通过管理理念、过程、内容和评估机制介入社会管理创新,使社会管理更加符合经济社会发展需求,促进社会和谐稳定。     

Some Dominant Perspectives in the Literature Relating to Multi-Racial Social Work

Summary This article represents an attempt to provide an overall frameworkfor the understanding of the social work literature relatingto racial minorities. It traces the main currents of socialwork thought from the earliest contributions of the late 1960sto the more recent work of the early 1980s. Four main themesare identified in the literature, which are referred to as theanthropological approach, liberal pluralism, cultural pluralismand the structuralist position. The conclusion attempts to tentativelydraw out the relationships between the literature, social workpractice and ultimate race relations goals.     

社会工作实习联合督导浅析

社会工作实习联合督导是由社工院系与与专业机构或社区共同为学生提供集中实习训练和实习的督导制度,在美国已经相当成熟。在不同实习阶段的专业督导过程中,院系和机构的督导有不同的角色定位与工作内容,笔者对此进行了总结。