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Social Welfare for a Global Era
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Social Welfare for a Global Era
International Perspectives on Policy and Practice



February 2016 | 264 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Written by internationally renowned author and scholar James Midgley, Social Welfare for a Global Era provides a comprehensive framework for examining social welfare from a global perspective. Drawing on a large body of literature and his own extensive knowledge of the field, Dr. Midgley offers students, scholars, and practitioners an up-to-date account of the complex ways social well-being is enhanced in the global era, including the major welfare institutions that provide a cultural context for social welfare policy and practice. 

 
Part I: The Global Context
 
Chapter 1: The Field of International Social Welfare
Practical Aspects of International Social Welfare

 
Academic Aspects of International Social Welfare

 
International Social Welfare: Benefits and Challenges

 
 
Chapter 2: Understanding the Modern World: From Nation State to Global Era
Nation States and the Emergence of the Global Era

 
Nation States and the Modern World

 
Social Conditions in the Modern World

 
 
Chapter 3: Globalization and the Global Era
Globalization: Historical and Academic Perspectives

 
Unraveling Globalization: Definition and Dimensions

 
The Impact of Globalization

 
Responding to Globalization

 
 
Part II: Promoting Social Welfare in the Global Era
 
Chapter 4: Families, Communities and Nonformal Welfare
The Nature of Nonformal Welfare

 
Challenges to Nonformal Welfare

 
Formalization, Integration and Opportunities

 
 
Chapter 5: Nonprofits and Faith-based Services: International Dimensions
Defining Nonprofits and Faith-based Organizations

 
Nonprofits and Faith-based Organizations in International Context

 
The Role of the Voluntary Sector

 
 
Chapter 6: Professional Social Work in the International Context
The Nature of Social Work

 
Social Work Around the World

 
International Social Work: Challenges and Issues

 
 
Chapter 7: Welfare, Markets and Commercial Provision
Understanding Markets and Commercial Providers

 
Varieties of Market-based Welfare

 
The Limitations of Markets and Commercial Provision

 
 
Chapter 8: Government Welfare in the Modern World
Defining the State and State Welfare

 
The Historical Evolution of State Welfare

 
State Welfare Around the World

 
 
Chapter 9: Governments, Welfare and Social Change
Analyzing Social Change

 
Changing State Welfare: From Golden Age to Crisis and Beyond

 
The Future of State Welfare: Shaping the New Pluralism

 
 
Chapter 10: Social Welfare and International Social Development
Features of Social Development

 
Social Development: Theory and Practice

 
Social Development: Limitations and Prospects

 
 
Part III: Social Welfare for a Global Era
 
Chapter 11: International Collaboration in Social Welfare
History of International Social Welfare Cooperation

 
Promoting International Social Welfare Cooperation

 
Issues and Challenges in Social Welfare Cooperation

 
 
Chapter 12: Epilogue: Towards a Global Perspective in Social Welfare
Roots of the One World Perspective

 
Elements of a One World Perspective

 
Challenges to a One World Perspective: Values and Power

 

"By providing a comprehensive, critical and in-depth analysis of how informal and formal welfare institutions, policies and programs operate in international contexts, this book fills a significant gap in the global social welfare literature. It brilliantly and objectively exposes controversial issues with supporting and opposing arguments that makes us think about the prospects of global welfare and wellbeing in diverse contexts. Policymakers, educators and students will find this book highly engaging and useful in their practice."

Manohar Pawar
Charles Sturt University, Australia

“In this most timely and apposite volume, Professor James Midgley provides the first comprehensive overview of policies and action to promote social wellbeing within an international context at both national and cross-national levels. In addressing social welfare within a truly global era, he analyses not just mainstream government and market-based provision, but also the less frequently discussed areas of non-formal welfare, non-profits and faith-based initiatives, professional social work and international social development. Thanks to this valuable publication, a far more complete picture is now emerging of the true scope and implications of international social welfare policy in a worldwide context.”

Anthony Hall
London School of Economics and Political Science

“In his new book, James Midgley provides an excellent and up-to-date account of the way different social welfare institutions are promoting people’s well-being around the world. This informative and readable book shows how international social policy and practice can foster their welfare. It fills an important gap in our knowledge of international social welfare in a changing global environment. It should be widely consulted by scholars, practitioners, policymakers and students.”

Leila Patel
University of Johannesburg, South Africa

“This text should become a ‘must read’ for students and scholars interested in global social welfare, humanitarian aid, and inter-governmental organizations. Midgley once again has presented an eloquent historical and theoretical analysis of the evolution of the current global systems of welfare.”

Megan B. Morris
New Mexico State University

"A comprehensive reading to follow the current social welfare theories, issues, debates, policies and practical challenges in today’s globalized societies." 

Qingwen Xu
Tulane School of Social Work

“This book provides a reflection of international social welfare development over centuries, culminating in a global view of the state of the world today—the world social situation, with an attached map which indicates various possible routes to take in order to arrive at one world view of enhancing global social welfare.” 

Corlie VanDerBerg
University of Pretoria

“Jim Midgley has a scope of vision that is unmatched by other social welfare scholars in the United States. We have benefitted for many years from his astonishing grasp of history and range of international comparisons. In his new book, Social Welfare for a Global Era, Midgley asks us to consider the fundamental question: What is purposeful social action for? The book is well organized and clearly written. Engaging examples enliven the text. Thoughtful readings at the end of each chapter enrich the educational value. In the final chapter, a “one world” perspective distills promising pathways forward. Social Welfare for a Global Era can serve as a basic text in social welfare, or in international social welfare. It provides a strong foundation for more specific social welfare topics, whether local, national, or international.” 

Michael Sherraden, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis

“Jim Midgley brings together a world of experience and a vast breadth of knowledge in presenting this new and incisive analysis of the concepts, history and current challenges relating to social welfare around the world.  At once an introductory text and also an analysis which expands the boundaries of current thinking in global social welfare, this volume has a great deal to offer both the beginning student and the established scholar in the field.”

Doreen Elliott
University of Texas at Arlington

Social Welfare for a Global Era makes a truly important contribution to the field of international/comparative social welfare. It raises new kinds of questions, illuminates neglected themes, and prompts a reassessment of familiar topics. The prose is sparkling and the insights are manifold. It will be an essential read for undergraduate and postgraduate students in social work and social administration.”

James Lee
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Key features

KEY FEATURES:

  • A focus on international collaboration in social welfare includes the way social policymaking is becoming increasingly internationalized through the efforts of multi-lateral organizations and the willingness of national governments to collaborate on international initiatives.
  • A sensitivity to cultural diversity discusses the realities of global social welfare.
  • An in-depth overview of the role of families and communities, nonprofits and faith-based organizations, commercial providers, professional social workers, and governments in social welfare addresses the local and international efforts to enhance social well-being.
  • A balanced approach to controversial issues details the strengths and weaknesses of different perspectives.
  • An extensive knowledge and use of the latest bibliographic references in the field exposes readers to key research and theory.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

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