Governance, Development, and Social Work

Chathapuram S. Ramanathan, Subhabrata Dutta

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781134452088
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Global Development Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

This book explores how many issues related to development and governance –including migration, disaster management, environmental justice, peace and security, sustainability, public-private partnerships, and terrorism – impact the practice of social work. It takes a global, comparative approach, reflecting the global context in which social workers now operate.

1 Governance, Development, and Social Work

Introduction

Subhabrata Dutta and Chathapuram S. Ramanathan

In the discourse of development, until recently, more often than not, development has been viewed as other-centered, i.e., development is more of a concern that pertains to the developing world. Historically, in the development field, societies were viewed from a deficit perspective as opposed to from a strength perspective. Societies were classified as developed, underdeveloped, and least developed; or first world, second world, and third world. As suggested by Ramanathan and Link (1999, 2004), language is power. There is a definite need to rethink categorizing nation-states in value-laden terms that devalue a whole group of people. This is true when we categorize groups of people living in a particular human condition as “Third World.” This classification is based on certain indicators and a political decision was arrived at by leaving out other indicators to classify people. We may want to question the rationale we use to classify societies based on gross national product (GNP), leaving aside per capita deaths as a result of domestic violence and/or hand gun deaths. Further, when GNP alone is used as an indicator it excludes unpaid contributions of millions of women across the globe who are working in informal labor markets, such as home, village, farming, and markets, devaluing their labor disproportionately to that of men (Ramanathan & Link, 1999). Therefore, we believe that continuing to classifysocieties solely based on GNP could be attributed to latent neo-colonial tendencies among policies of some advanced economies, encouraging social technology flow was viewed with a unidirectional perspective, from advanced economies to developing economies. Therefore, it may be useful to reflect on the purpose of classifying societies.

Development will be very short lived and self-destructive unless it is sustainable in the sense that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). This suggests that economic, environment, migration policies, international law, and health must be systematically coordinated for sustainable economic, social, and political development (Ramanathan & Link, 2004, 1999; Rogge, 2001). Consequently, there is an urgent and growing recognition that social workers and social development practitioners understand their neighbors and their role in the world. In a time of tension and social distress, increasing global awareness expands our vision for practice and empowerment. Following many experiences of learning from colleagues worldwide the authors believe, “that social workers across the globe can always learn from each other in an atmosphere of reciprocity where social and economic justice are twin goals” (Ramanathan & Link, 1999). Many recognize the necessity of studying global interdependence, but, “Only a handful of programs require courses on international social work (Khinduka, 1999). Over the last decade, more programs are offering courses on international social welfare, and this development is encouraging.

Recently, the ideal of international cooperation espoused in the Declaration of Human Rights has been challenged by a New World Order where economic and military might dominates social life (Rieff, 2003). Social workers are practicing at the crossroads of economic and social development where peaceful relationships are jeopardized by human aggression. Politicians are saying that we should put a human face on the global economy, but it is yet to be actualized and we are concerned that the goal not stagnate or be seen as too idealistic. In his discussion of the “truth about globalisation,” Legrain points out the consequences of exploiting children (Legrain, 2002). Simultaneously we find that child workers are demonstrating in New Delhi against harsh conditions and low pay, and children overflowing from homeless shelters in Chicago. As suggested by Link and Ramanathan (2011), students have become more aware of their purchasing power and in response to news of child workers have made an impact on clothing manufacturers and maquiladores (US-owned plants operated in Mexico and Central America) through their travel exchanges, volunteer work, and electronic mail campaigns. As social workers and social development practitioners, it is our ethical obligation to the oppressed, wherever they are, to be able to unite in effective strategies and bring global issues to the forefront of socio-economic change.

The present era of globalization creates a differential impact and poses a critical dilemma for both the developing countries or emerging economies and advanced economies. On the one hand, the emerging forces of market economy are striving to adapt some of the traditional powers and responsibilities of the state even in basic sectors in the name of structural adjustment. On the other hand the failure of governmental initiative to foster people-oriented development has led to the mushrooming of NGOs and people's movement impinging critically on the agenda of development both within and outside the national borders. All this prompts questioning of the state's responsibility in the development process. But neither the market, nor for that matter any other non-governmental agency, can substitute for the non-state which at least in the foreseeable future looks to be the hub of all policy actions in the process of social development. On the other hand, some advanced economies are being challenged with movement of people and multiculturalism and there has been a wave of anti-immigrant sentiments; yet, other advanced economies are struggling with evolving of immigration policies that factor managing of the demography shift and its influence on the cultural ethos of those nation-states. Also, advanced economies are being challenged by unprecedented forces of the global market place, and the labor market, monitory and health care policies that are conceived and implemented, that was effective in the past to deal with the fluidity in the market place are no longer tenable.

In a global economy, in developmental debates, in developing, emerging, and advanced economies, “governance” has become a key concept. In order to explain why a number of countries failed to develop despite the fact that they have adopted neo-liberal adjustment policies imposed on them by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank, the World Bank in 1989 introduced the concept of governance. Governance is important for all countries at all stages of development (Camdessus, 1998). Further, governance is the basic tool for achieving fast, inclusive, and equitable growth and development. In general, governance is associated with efficient and effective administration in a democratic framework. It involves the exercise of political, economic, and administrative powers in managing a country's affairs and includes the process of formulation as well as implementation of decisions. Over the past decade, the concept of governance has become wider in complexion integrating a number of key elements and principles. Governance is considered to be effective and good if it is able to fulfill its basic commitments efficiently, effectively, and economically.

Good governance is vital to sustainable development. Good governance can be actualized in a democratic framework only when the society believes in it. It involves an open political process with a workable central and state power sharing relationship and arrangements. Many nation-states have failed to develop despite the adoption of eco-liberal policies imposed on them by the IMF and the World Bank in 1989. Governance is important for all countries at all stages of development (Camdessus, 1998). It is the basic tool for achieving fast, inclusive, and equitable growth and development.

Sound development is not confined to growth in gross national product or increase in national income. We all are subject to the “common human condition” and cannot live with dignity without our basic needs being met (Link & Ramanathan, 2011). Gross national product measures have ignored ecological and social costs and minimized other factors essential to a pluralistic society. It is no longer determined by economic growth in quantitative terms but rather by progress in all spheres: political, social, environmental, and cultural. Development is thus looked upon as a process of creating a suitable and enabling environment for people, to lead long, healthy, productive, and creative lives. The rapid growth of post-reform China has advanced with potential fatal flaws devoid of systematic attention to its impact on environmental and cultural considerations. This advancement still expects allegiance to a single political system that ignores democratic values. Recently, emphasis on ‘good governance’ is because it is associated with efficient and effective administration in a democratic framework. Good governance is viewed as purposive and development-oriented administration committed to improving the quality of life. When we look at good governance and quality of life, the carnage of school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, in the US, on December 14, 2012 surfaces, as a critical and an important paradox, that is, individual freedom and its unintended social consequence. Given the intensity of what transpired after the killings of 20, 6- and 7-year-old elementary school children and six school staff members, some like Baker (2012) compared President Obama's speech during the interfaith prayer vigil on December 16^th to that of President Lincoln's Gettysburg address and ‘birth of new freedom,’ and President Kennedy's inspiring speech on civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama in the US. In that interfaith prayer vigil speech President Obama said “… Since I've been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting. The fourth time we've hugged survivors. The fourth time we've consoled the families of victims. And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big cities all across America—victims whose—much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law—no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can't be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this” (Obama, 2012).

So, in the previous scenario, issues that pertain to social reforms are highlighted. Thus, good governance aims at achieving much more than efficient management of economic and financial resources or public services. It is a broad reform strategy to make government more open, responsive, and democratic, as well as strengthen institutions of civil society and regulate private sector. Good governance is a combination of efficiency concerns of public management and accountability aspects of governance. It is a prerequisite for promoting people-centered development and it is gaining importance. The editors of this volume believe that this kind of social infrastructure is critical for the advancement of human dignity and maximizing human potential. Thus, good governance is, among other things, participatory, transparent and accountable, effective and equitable, and it promotes the rule of law. It ensures that political, social, and economic priorities are based on broad consensus in society and that the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable are heard in decision making over the allocation of development resources.

In the present global context, it is natural that ‘governance’ is considered as an attempt to widen the scope of public administration by stretching beyond formal governments. It is broader in nature extending to the private sector, non-governmental mechanism along with governmental institutions. Collective problem solving is taking the place of individualized decision making. There are many forms of community organization, voluntary and collective self-help groups (SHGs) through which people are organizing themselves to achieve common goals and objectives. According to a UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Report (1994), the challenge for all societies is to create a system of governance that promotes, supports, and sustains human development, especially the poorest and the marginal. UNDP defines the term “governance” which means different things to different people; it is useful, therefore, for the UNDP to clarify, at the very outset, the sense in which it understands the word. Among the many definitions of “governance” that exist, the one that appears the most appropriate from the viewpoint of the UNDP is “the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country's affairs at all levels. It comprises mechanisms, processes and institutions, through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences.”

According to the World Bank (1994), governance is “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development.” Here, the concept of governance is concerned directly with the management of the development process, involving both the public and the private sectors. It encompasses the functioning and capability of the public sector, as well as the rules and institutions that create the framework for the conduct of both public and private business, including accountability for economic and financial performance, and regulatory frameworks relating to companies, corporations, and partnerships. In broad terms, then, governance is about the institutional environment in which citizens interact among themselves and with government agencies/officials.

According to Kofi Annan (The Former UN Secretary-General), “good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.” Better governance is importa...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• List of figures
• List of Tables, Boxes, and Charts
• Foreword
• Preface
• 1 Governance, Development, and Social Work: Introduction
• 2 Civil Society and Governance: Between Involvement and Autonomy?
• 3 People's Movement for Accountable Electoral Politics and Empowerment of Tribals
• 4 Citizen-Centered Administration for Child Welfare
• 5 Self-Help Groups—Towards Citizen-Centric Policies and Services: A Study of a District in West Bengal
• 6 Governance and Development
• 7 Social Security on Health Care: A Refl ection from the UK and US
• 8 Governance and Disaster Management: The Governmental and Community Response to Hurricane Katrina and the Victorian Bushfires
• 9 Disasters and Disaster Aid: Conceptual Paradigm and Implications for Social Work Intervention, with Special Reference to the Indian Scenario
• 10 Organizing for Environmental Justice: From Bridges to Taro Patches
• 11 Technology and Its Role in Good Governance
• 12 ICT and Knowledge Economy: An Indian Contour of Polarities
• 13 Capitalism, Worker Rights, Community Well-Being, and Corporate Responsibility
• 14 Partnership in Good Governance: Role of Government and the HSDS
• 15 Visions for the Future
• Contributors