social-change-and-development for social work notes

Notes for Social Work

1. Concepts Social change – refers to basic alterations, over time, in the behavior patterns, culture, and structure of society. General term which refers to change in the nature, the social institutions, the social behavior or the social relations of a society or community of people. Refers also to acts of advocacy for the cause of changing society in a positive way.

2. What constitute social change? Advocacy for human rights Justice Equality Democracy Social movements Cause-oriented groups for liberation and eradication

3. Social change could be: Slow, gradual, incremental and evolutionary; in this it might be barely noticeable. Fast, radical, sudden and revolutionary; it might even take people by surprise

4. Social change could be: Wide in scope, affecting all people in a society Limited in scope, affecting only a small number of people.

5. Development the process of improving the capability of a country’s institutions and value system to meet increasing and different demands of social, cultural, political as well as economic character.

6. The process whereby a country deliberately fosters economic abundance and social equity through the orderly and wise utilization of resources so as to attain a better life for all.

7. Development as Freedom Denotes freedom from dependency, from both internal and external obstacles to freedom, and from exploitative structures and institutions in order that a man may realize his potentials.

8. Man must be free from: Conditions that are less than human brought on by a number of causes such as poverty, ignorance, ill-health, etc. Unjust and oppressive structures and institutions which serve further to dehumanize man such as social injustice and human exploitation.

9. Obstacles in man himself- his greed, selfishness, dishonesty. Liberation of marginal men/groups . - those who do not enter into the decision making processes of their communities, have a precarious economic existence and do not relate to other groups.

10. Social development refers to the rise in the levels of living, a more equitable distribution of income and wealth, a better system of socio-economic stratification, and a greater social mobility.

11. Economic development – the expansion of nation’s output or the expansion of a nation’s capability to produce the goods and services its people need.

12. Participatory development a process through which stakeholders can influence and share control over development initiatives, and over the decisions and resources that affect themselves.

13. Sustainable development a process for meeting human development goals while maintaining the ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystems services upon which the economy and society depend.

14. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

15. Environmental Perspective Individuals and industries are aware of the need to act responsibly in protecting the world by applying the principles of sustainable development . – this means acting in a way which doesn’t limit the range of economic, social and environmental options available for future generations.

16. A disaster is a  serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time  that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

17. Disaster Risk Reduction A systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing the risks of disaster. Aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster as well as dealing with the environmental and other hazards that trigger them.

18. Disaster Risk Reduction The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risk throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development. (most commonly cited definition of DRR used by UN agencies such as UNISDR also known as UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction)

19. Disaster Risk Reduction is about choices.   Disaster risk reduction is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and reduce the causal factors of disasters. Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness and early warning for adverse events are all examples of disasters risk reduction.

20. Basic Concept and Terminologies in Disaster Management Hazard Phenomenon or situation, which has the potential to cause disruption or damage to people, their property, their services and their environment. ‘There is a potential for occurrence of an even’

21. Disaster The serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected people to cope using their own resources. Basic Concept and Terminologies in Disaster Management

22. Vulnerability A condition or sets of conditions that reduces people’s ability to prepare for, withstand or respond to a hazard.   Capacity Those positive condition or abilities which increase a community’s ability to deal with hazards.   Basic Concept and Terminologies in Disaster Management

23. Risk The probability that a community’s structure or geographic area is to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a particular hazard, on account of their nature, construction, and proximity to a hazardous area. Basic Concept and Terminologies in Disaster Management

24. Elements at Risk Persons, buildings, crops or other such like societal components exposed to known hazard, which are likely to be adversely affected by the impact of the hazard.

25. Response Actions taken immediately following the impact of a disaster when exceptional measures are required to meet the basic needs of the survivors.   Relief Measures that are required in search and rescue of survivors, as well to meet the basic needs for shelter, water, food, health and care. The Disaster Management Cycle

26. Recovery The process undertaken by a disaster affected community to fully restore itself to pre-disaster level of functioning. The Disaster Management Cycle

27. Rehabilitation Actions taken in the aftermath of a disaster to: 1. assist victims to repair their dwellings 2. re-establish essential services 3. revive key economic and social activities   The Disaster Management Cycle

28. Reconstruction Permanent measures to repair or replace damaged dwellings and infrastructure and to set the economy back on the course.   Development Sustained efforts intended to improve or maintain the social and economic well-being of a community. The Disaster Management Cycle

29. Prevention Measures taken to avert a disaster from occurring, if possible (to impede a hazard so that it doesn’t have any harmful effects   Mitigation Measures taken prior to the impact of a disaster to minimize its effects.   The Disaster Management Cycle

30. Preparedness Measures taken in anticipation of a disaster to ensure that appropriate and effective actions are taken in the aftermath.     The Disaster Management Cycle

31. Economic Growth An increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time An increase in the capacity of an economy to produce goods and services, compared from one period of time to another Measured in terms of gross national product (GNP) or gross domestic product (GDP)

32. Development Indicators Gross National Product – - Monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period. Calculated on an annual basis, can be calculated quarterly Includes all private and public consumption, government outlays, investments and exports minus imports that occur within a defined territory Broad measurement of a nation’s overall economic activity

33. Per Capita Income Also known as income per person, is the mean income of the people in an economic unit such as a country or city. Calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population Development Indicators

34. Other Development Indicators Life expectancy – the average numbers of years you are expected to live from birth Death rate – the numbers of deaths per year per 1000 of the population Birth rate – the number of births per year per 1000 of the population Child mortality – the number of deaths of children under the age of 5 per year Infant mortality – the number of deaths of infants under the age of 1 per year

35. Quality of Life Indicators Access to services – this describes the degree of access to clean water, sanitation and sewage treatment, electricity, etc Diet – often presented in the form daily calorie intake which is 2500 calories for men and 2000 for women HDI – (Human development index) multi dimensional development indicators, which uses an index made up from the following three components: a. Adult literacy b. Life expectancy c. GDP per capita

36. Health/health care – can be measured specifically through a number of human welfare indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality, which is the number of women who die each year due to pregnancy related problems. Housing – an important indicator for quality of life and the best indicator for this is the percentage of slum housing in a country. Political freedom – refers to level of individual participation in the political process and includes the right to vote and freedom of media and speech Security and safety – measured through conditions of human rights Quality of Life Indicators

37. Increased welfare and human development The term development is highly complex and has many facets including economic progress and quality of life. Quality of life relates directly to human welfare and is influenced by economic, social, political, and environmental factors. UN definition of development: ‘ to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community.

38. Modernization Theory Used to explain the process of modernization within societies. Modernization - refers to a model of progressive transition from a ‘pre-modern’ or ‘traditional’ to a ‘modern’ society. - originated from the ideas of German sociologist Max Weber which provided the basis for the modernization paradigm developed by Harvard sociologist Talcott Parsons.

39. Looks at the internal factors of a country while assuming that with assistance, “traditional” countries can be brought to development in the same manner more developed countries have been. Attempts to identify the social variables that contribute to social progress and development of societies and seeks to explain the process of social evolution stresses not only the process of change but also the responses to that change.

40. Also looks at the internal dynamics while referring to social and cultural structures and the adaptation of the new technologies. Maintains that traditional societies will develop as they adopt more modern practices. Proponents of modern theory claim that modern states are wealthier and more powerful and that their citizens are freer to enjoy a higher standard of living. Development such as new data technology and the need to update traditional methods in transport, communication and production, it is argued, make modernization necessary or at least preferable to the status quo.

41. Traditional religious beliefs and cultural traits, according to the theory, usually becomes less important as modernization takes hold. Historian link modernization to the processes of urbanization and industrialization and the spread of education. When modernization increases within a society, the individual becomes increasingly important, eventually replacing the family or community as the fundamental unit of society