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Social Development
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Social Development
Theory and Practice



November 2013 | 296 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Walking through social development’s key theoretical principles and practice strategies, this book shows how it promotes peoples’ wellbeing not only in the Global South, where it first emerged, but in the Western countries as well. It covers:

  • Definitions and an historical evolution of social development
  • Key theoretical debates around social well-being, human rights and social justice
  • Social development practice such as human capital interventions, community development and cooperatives, asset building, employment creation policies and programmes, microenterprises and social planning among others
  • Future challenges; global poverty, international aid and trade, and global inequality, conflict and injustice.

Complete with international examples drawn from around the world, Social Development: Theory and Practice demonstrates how social development theory translates into practical application.

This book is essential reading for students in development studies, social policy, public administration and social work, and for policymakers and development practitioners everywhere.

James Midgley is the Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services at the School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley.

 

 
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
 
1. Defining Social Development
Approaches to Definition

 
Towards a Definition

 
 
2. The History of Social Development
The Idea of Development

 
The Critique of the Standard Model

 
The Origins of Social Development Practice

 
The Role of the International Agencies

 
Reactions against Statism and the Renewal of Social Development

 
Reinvigorating and Redefining Social Development

 
 
PART TWO: THE THEORY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
 
3. Theoretical Debates and the Social Development Process
The Original Condition

 
The Goals of Social Development

 
Change, Progress and Intervention

 
Normative Perspectives

 
 
4. Theoretical Principles of Social Development Practice
Social Development Practice

 
Features of Social Development Practice

 
The Practice Strategies

 
Agents, Levels and Organisations

 
Assesing Practice Outcomes

 
 
PART THREE: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
 
5. Investments in Skills and Knowledge: The Role of Human Capital
Human Capital in Historical Context

 
Types of Human Capital

 
Childcare and Early Childhood Interventions

 
Formal Education: Schools and Universities

 
Popular Education, Health and Nutrition

 
Issues of Human Capital and Social Development

 
 
6. Social Capital, Communities and Social Development
Historical Dimensions

 
Social Capital and Community Development

 
Activism and Community Action

 
Community Building and Community Development

 
Community Economic Development

 
Community Development and Social Development

 
 
7. Promoting Decent Work and Employment: Policies and Investments
The History of Employment and Employment Policy

 
Key Programmes and Policies

 
The Macroeconomic Policy Framework

 
Employment Projects and Programmes

 
Employment Policy and Decent Work

 
Challenges and Opportunities

 
 
8. Microenterprise, Microfinance and Social Development
The Evolution of Microenterprise and Microfinance

 
Features of Microenterprise and Microfinance

 
Types of Microenterprise

 
Grameen Bank II and the Commercialisation of Microfinance

 
Microenterprise, Poverty and Social Development

 
 
9. Assets and Social Development
Asset Building in Historical Context

 
The Nature of Assets and Asset Building

 
Financial Assets for Individuals and Households

 
Community Development and Community-Owned Assets

 
National Assets, Trusts and the State

 
The Role of Assets in Social Development

 
 
10. Social Protection as a Social Development Strategy
The History of Social Protection

 
The Features of Social Protection

 
Varieties of Social Protection

 
Poverty Alleviation Innnovations

 
Social Protection and Development: Challenges and Opportunities

 
 
11. Social Planning, Rights and Social Development
Social Planning's Historical Evolution

 
The Nature of Social Planning

 
Types of Social Planning

 
Planning, Targets and Rights

 
Problems and Prospects of Social Planning

 
 
PART FOUR: CONCLUSION
 
12. The Agenda: Achieving Social Development
Social Development: Towards Institutional Structuralism

 
Theoretical Roots

 
Implementing Managed Pluralism

 
Barrier and Challenges

 
Opportunity, Power and Struggle

 

Useful introduction to key concepts and history of social development theory and practice for students.

Ms Roma Thomas
Health & Social Sciences, Educ. Ctr., Bedfordshire Univ.
September 19, 2014

Excellent journey through key theoretical approaches and the practice of social development in its various forms. Draws the many threads informing the debate into a cohesive whole.

Ms Shan Ashton
Lifelong Learning, Bangor Univ.
July 4, 2014

Excellent book to gain an understanding of theory and practice

Julia Hope
Social Policy, Sociology & Social Rsch, Univ. of Kent
April 22, 2014

A strong text, written in a clear and concise manner for students. Key theoretical concepts introduced and explored to provide a good foundation for Health & Social Wellbeing students.

Mr Peter Leadbetter
Faculty of Health, Edge Hill University
April 3, 2014

Once again James Midgley provides an interesting book on Social Development. I have found the book particularly helpful in dealing with the relationship between social policy and economic policy.

Dr Bridget Ng'andu
Social Work, Ruskin College Oxford
March 19, 2014

A thorough and insightful book which will be useful for dissertation students interested in this area.

Mr Luke Champion
Education , Manchester Metropolitan University
February 12, 2014
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Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter One: Defining Social Development


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ISBN: 9781412947787
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