Resources reduction and welfare changes: tensions between social workers and organisations. The Italian case in child protection services

Within the field of studies on professionalism, this paper explores the changes in roles of social workers and the new tensions emerging in the relationship with their organisational contexts, due to the reduction of resources and the introduction of neoliberal and managerial policies in the welfare system. The paper is based on qualitative research carried out through 32 in-depth interviews with frontline social workers engaged in child and family services in Italy. The paper investigates how spending cuts have affected the relationship with the organisation arguing that the ways the cuts are implemented, as well as the room for professional recognition set by the organisation, are relevant. A four-character social worker typology is outlined, drawn from the intersection of two meaningful dimensions: sense of belonging and critical thinking. It is argued that a ‘critically engaged’ type points to a new form of professionalism that may emerge from the current crisis of the relationship between the organisation and social workers.     

明治维新成功与戊戌变法失败的政治学分析

由于中日两国在政治体制方面存在着巨大的差异,决定了日本明治维新的成功和中国戊戌变法的失败。从政治发展的危机论角度观察,清末的政治体系不但面临着权威危机,而且还面临着参与危机;从实现现代化的政治条件上观察,清末的政治体制已经失去了实现现代化的政治功能;从政治衰败的角度观察,清末的政治衰败已到了无法挽救的地步。     

危机公关中的议程设置与议题管理——以博士伦隐形眼镜护理液的产品质量危机为例

如何在危机时期展开良好的传播沟通活动是危机公关制胜的关键。文章立足于产品质量危机案例,采用内容分析法分析危机时期组织议题和公众议题之间的相关性。研究发现,危机时期组织议题对公众议题具有议程设置的作用,但组织议题与公众议题的角度并不完全一致;随着事态的发展,公众自发性地将有关政府监管的话题纳入议题。基于研究结果,一个新的危机传播模型得以产生:通过设置舆论焦点,相关组织可以进行议题管理,主动并有预见性地展开危机公关。     

大学生心理危机产生原因及对策

在大学生中常见的心理危机有就业危机、学习危机、情感危机等,由于大学生心理危机呈现出突发性、紧急性、痛苦性、无助性、危险性等特点,导致其成为影响大学生的成长、成才的重要因素。本文分析了大学生心理危机产生的内、外部原因,阐述心理危机干预的三种基本模式即平衡模式、认知模式和心理转变模式,并据此提出大学生心理危机干预对策。     

和谐社会视野下的政府危机管理体制——由松花江水污染事件引发的思考

以和谐社会建设理论为视野,阐述了政府危机管理的含义,在此基础上审视了我国的立法现状,并分析了我国政府危机管理的缺陷,进而加以合理的制度设计,以提高政府的危机管理能力,确保和谐社会的实现。     

中国房地产市场泡沫与潜在的金融风险

针对房地产泡沫与银行风险之间存在的内在机理,通过理论研究,全面而系统地深入分析房地产泡沫的形成、对银行的影响及其损害,在揭示其特质及内在作用机制的同时,为中国当前对房地产实施的宏观调控政策提供科学依据。     

Issue Information

In 2017, the number of applications for care orders in England and Wales was the highest ever recorded at 14,207. This is a significant factor, contributing to the rise in the number of children who are looked after, which is at the highest level since 1985. The authors reflect on the recently published Care Crisis Review 2018, a sector‐led review, which examines the reasons for the rise in care proceedings and the number of children in care. The review sought to identify changes to policy and practice within local authorities and the family justice system, in an attempt to divert cases away from the family courts and to reduce the number of children in care, where it is safe to do so. Whilst the legislative framework is largely effective and the system generally works well, there is insufficient funding and resources to meet the needs of children and their families when they seek help, regardless of whether this is at an early stage or when they are in crisis and most in need of care and protection.     

How publics react to situational and renewing organizational responses across crises: Examining SCCT and DOR in social-mediated crises

The prevalence of social media among networked publics calls for more research regarding how organizations can conduct effective crisis communication on social networking sites. Based on the situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) and the discourse of renewal (DOR) theory, this study examined how social media publics’ sentiments were affected by situational and renewing organizational responses in various clusters of crises. Twitter data of six crises representing three crisis clusters varying in the responsibility attribution (i.e., ambiguous, accidental, and preventable) were collected. We conducted a content analysis on organizations’ official tweets during crises (N = 59) and sentiment analysis on publics’ replies on Twitter (N = 4,340). The results showed that publics’ positive sentiments toward organizations were affected by organizational crisis responses that included instructing information, sympathy, systemic organizational learning, and effective organizational rhetoric. We recommend that crisis managers express sympathy toward publics as well as organizational learning that prevents a crisis from happening again.     

Narrative persuasion,identification, attitudes,and trustworthiness in crisis communication

The purpose of this study is to test the effects of narratives in crisis communication. This research assesses how organizations benefit from using stories in their media responses, relative to sharing nonnarrative information. The theory of crisis response narratives (Heath, 2004) holds that ethical narratives are effective because they enhance trustworthiness, attitudes toward the spokesperson, and identification with the spokesperson. Normative crisis communication theory exhorts disclosing truthful information rather than spinning. In an online experiment, participants (N = 365) watched a news interview in which a scandalized company’s spokesperson responded to a journalist’s questions with (a) ethical narratives, (b) unethical (spin) narratives, or (c) nonnarrative information. Multiple mediator modeling assessed identification with the spokesperson, attitudes toward the spokesperson, and perceived trustworthiness of the spokesperson. Results indicate ethical narratives are more effective than unethical narratives. However, nonnarrative information most effectively enhances trustworthiness and bolsters identification.     

A qualitative case study of a Korean former addict’s existential self‐interpretation and identity transformation

This study explored the case of a former addict, focusing on his existential self‐interpretation and identity transformation process. This study began from the question of whether philosophical processes related to existential self‐interpretation could lead to the formation of the concept of bottoming out and of identity transformation. To answer this question, the study analyzed the case of a male in his mid‐forties who was addicted to drugs for approximately 30 years and has only recently maintained abstinence. The study used the phenomenological approach to determine the meaning drugs held for him in each stage, and what drug‐related identity he had in each stage. Further, this study identified the integrative implications of these meanings in terms of existential self‐interpretation and identity transformation. The four different identities the man identified for the four stages of his life were juvenile delinquent, gang member, half‐gangster, and breadwinner, and the associated meanings drugs had for him during each period were “glue,” “filthy,” “leeches,” and “abstinence,” respectively. Finally, this study elucidated the integration of these meanings through the hermeneutic circle, identified the social welfare implications of the findings, and developed educational recommendations.