Midgley's ideologies about social development and their relevance to individuals' social w
Social development is also used to mean the bundle of technological, subsistence, organizational, and cultural accomplishments through which people feed, clothe, house, and reproduce themselves, explain the world around them, resolve disputes within their communities, extend their power at the expense of other communities, and defend themselves against others' attempts to extend power (Morris 2010)
Social development welfare is an integrated intervention including therapy, organizational change, community development, social education and social action that seeks to empower and to promote the wellbeing and social functioning of individuals, families, communities and society at large by fostering sustainable growth, change and progress. (Kleijn, 2004)
Numerous models have been formulated to describe development. Generally, these start off with a state of not-yet development or non-development, and then go on to contrast this with a second state: some kind of plan or blueprint for development. As a result, the process of development is equated with a series of completed stages. Like having to climb the rungs of a ladder, one moves up and up in order to become more and more developed. The associated catching-up processes are then frequently described with phase models. In contrast to such goal-directed perspectives on development with their links to modernization theory, social development pursues an alternative approach focusing on the empowerment and autonomy of actors, and also taking account of the structural obstacles that confront them as they shape their daily lives in the sense of learning to develop their selves. This means that development is always conceived within a twin framework of self- and other-development. Social development represents a holistic approach that is non-static and process-oriented. (Reutlinger C, Homfeldt HG 2009)
According to Midgley J (1995), of social development is a process of planned social change designed to promote the wellbeing of the population as a whole in conjunction with a dynamic process economic development. He also adds that social development is an approach that offers an effective response to current social problems. The definition focuses at promoting people's welfare can be elucidated as an enabling perspective, because it focuses attention on the potentials for action without forgetting the structural constraints to which actors are subject. Midgley J (1995) has had a decisive impact on the international discussion on social development. He conceives it as a "process of planned social change designed to promote the well-being of the population as a whole in conjunction with a dynamic process of economic development".
He further highlights the key concepts of social development including;
Looking at the link between social development and social welfare, Midgley adds that it is possible today to identify 3 institutionalized approaches to promoting social welfare and they include
We can clearly say that all these approaches for promoting peoples welfare have been widely adopted throughout the world.
Adding on that is Kleijn, (2004) that the goal of development social welfare is a human, peaceful, just and caring society which will uphold welfare rights, facilitate the meeting of basic needs, release peoples' creative energies, help them achieve their aspirations, build human capacity and self reliance and participate full in all spheres of social, economic and political life all that is intended to produce a social well-being that makes people capable of acting and making their own decisions in the broadest sense.
Looking at the concept of social development, Reutlinger C, Homfeldt HG (2009) concludes that the strengths of social development lie in the fact that its intervention strategies address the macro-, meso-, and micro levels. This means that it draws local communities into its strategy packages just as much as governments and international organizations.
As has been indicated from the above discussion, and according to Midgley (1995), social development in linked to economic development. Social development can't take place without economic development and economic development is meaningless unless it is accompanied by improvements in social welfare for the population.
From Midgley's ideas, we can also note that social development does not deal with individual either by providing them with goods or services or by treating them or rehabilitating the, instead it focuses on the community or society and on wider social processes and structure. They idea on the nature of social development according to Midgley is that it is dynamic involving the process of growth and change.
There have been however some challenges and weakness as well as criticisms in the ideas that were portrayed by Midgley about the whole concept of social development in relation to individuals' welfare.
Looking at his concept of social planning, there has been absence of defined policies and programs in the sociological literature that has hampered the popularization of social development in sociological circles. Although the social workers have attempted to promote social development perspective, many have defined social development in a highly abstract and idealized way provide few specific proposals for action. Although social workers are interested in social development and have been involved in social development endeavors in the past, renewed efforts need to be made to define a unique social work approach to social development.
Despite the challenges, weaknesses and criticisms of Midgley's ideas, they have widely worked worldwide and they have helped to improve individuals' welfare with the focus to economic development and the communities where they live.
Social development welfare is an integrated intervention including therapy, organizational change, community development, social education and social action that seeks to empower and to promote the wellbeing and social functioning of individuals, families, communities and society at large by fostering sustainable growth, change and progress. (Kleijn, 2004)
Numerous models have been formulated to describe development. Generally, these start off with a state of not-yet development or non-development, and then go on to contrast this with a second state: some kind of plan or blueprint for development. As a result, the process of development is equated with a series of completed stages. Like having to climb the rungs of a ladder, one moves up and up in order to become more and more developed. The associated catching-up processes are then frequently described with phase models. In contrast to such goal-directed perspectives on development with their links to modernization theory, social development pursues an alternative approach focusing on the empowerment and autonomy of actors, and also taking account of the structural obstacles that confront them as they shape their daily lives in the sense of learning to develop their selves. This means that development is always conceived within a twin framework of self- and other-development. Social development represents a holistic approach that is non-static and process-oriented. (Reutlinger C, Homfeldt HG 2009)
According to Midgley J (1995), of social development is a process of planned social change designed to promote the wellbeing of the population as a whole in conjunction with a dynamic process economic development. He also adds that social development is an approach that offers an effective response to current social problems. The definition focuses at promoting people's welfare can be elucidated as an enabling perspective, because it focuses attention on the potentials for action without forgetting the structural constraints to which actors are subject. Midgley J (1995) has had a decisive impact on the international discussion on social development. He conceives it as a "process of planned social change designed to promote the well-being of the population as a whole in conjunction with a dynamic process of economic development".
He further highlights the key concepts of social development including;
- It is linked to economic development
- It has an interdisciplinary focus which draws on insights of various services
- It invokes a sense of process where the notion of growth and change is explicit
- It is progressive in nature
- It is interventionist in that advocates believe that organized efforts are needed to bring about improvements in social welfare
- The goals are fostered through various strategies
- It is inclusive or universalistic in scope as it is concerned with the population as a whole and
- Its goal is the promotion of social welfare
Looking at the link between social development and social welfare, Midgley adds that it is possible today to identify 3 institutionalized approaches to promoting social welfare and they include
- Social philanthropy which relies on private donations, voluntary efforts and non profit organizations to meet the needs, solve problems and create opportunities
- Social work which relies on professional personnel to foster welfare goal by working with individuals, groups and communities
- Social administration that relies on government intervention through a variety of statutory social services
We can clearly say that all these approaches for promoting peoples welfare have been widely adopted throughout the world.
Adding on that is Kleijn, (2004) that the goal of development social welfare is a human, peaceful, just and caring society which will uphold welfare rights, facilitate the meeting of basic needs, release peoples' creative energies, help them achieve their aspirations, build human capacity and self reliance and participate full in all spheres of social, economic and political life all that is intended to produce a social well-being that makes people capable of acting and making their own decisions in the broadest sense.
Looking at the concept of social development, Reutlinger C, Homfeldt HG (2009) concludes that the strengths of social development lie in the fact that its intervention strategies address the macro-, meso-, and micro levels. This means that it draws local communities into its strategy packages just as much as governments and international organizations.
As has been indicated from the above discussion, and according to Midgley (1995), social development in linked to economic development. Social development can't take place without economic development and economic development is meaningless unless it is accompanied by improvements in social welfare for the population.
From Midgley's ideas, we can also note that social development does not deal with individual either by providing them with goods or services or by treating them or rehabilitating the, instead it focuses on the community or society and on wider social processes and structure. They idea on the nature of social development according to Midgley is that it is dynamic involving the process of growth and change.
There have been however some challenges and weakness as well as criticisms in the ideas that were portrayed by Midgley about the whole concept of social development in relation to individuals' welfare.
Looking at his concept of social planning, there has been absence of defined policies and programs in the sociological literature that has hampered the popularization of social development in sociological circles. Although the social workers have attempted to promote social development perspective, many have defined social development in a highly abstract and idealized way provide few specific proposals for action. Although social workers are interested in social development and have been involved in social development endeavors in the past, renewed efforts need to be made to define a unique social work approach to social development.
Despite the challenges, weaknesses and criticisms of Midgley's ideas, they have widely worked worldwide and they have helped to improve individuals' welfare with the focus to economic development and the communities where they live.
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