SW- SOCIAL ACTION.pdf

Social Action

1. SOCIAL ACTION
MARIYA P
JRF In Social Work

2. SOCIAL ACTION
◦Secondarymethodofsocialwork
◦Macrosocialworkpracticethatincludesmobilizingmassesin
ordertobringaboutstructuralchangesinthesocialsystemorto
preventadversechanges
◦“Massbettermentthroughpropagandaandsociallegislation”
-MaryRichmond

3. “Socialactionisanindividual,grouporcommunityeffortwithinthe
frameworkofsocialworkphilosophyandpracticethataimsto
achievesocialprogresstomodifysocialpoliciesandtoimprove
sociallegislationandhealthandwelfareservices”
-Friedlander

4. ◦Socialactionisaprocesswithintheframeworkofsocialwork
philosophyandpracticethataimstoachievesocialchangeand
progressbyalteringexistingsocialstructureandsocial
relationships,modifyingsocialpolicies,reformingsocialservices
andinfluencingsociallegislations

5. OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL ACTION
Given by Mishra –
◦Prevention of needs
◦Solution of mass problems
◦Improvement in mass condition
◦Influencing institutions, policies and practices
◦Introduction of new mechanisms or programmes

6. ◦Redistribution of power and resources
◦Decision –making
◦Effect on thought and action structure
◦Improvement in health, education and welfare

7. PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL ACTION
◦GivenbyBritto
1)Principleofcredibilitybuilding:
◦Itisthetaskofcreatingthepublicimageofthesocialaction
movement(ofleadership,organizationandtheparticipants)
◦Credibilitycanbebuiltthrough-
◦Gesturesofgoodwilltowards/managingtheopponent
◦Settingorcreatingexamples
◦Selectionoftypical,urgentlyfeltproblemsforstruggles
◦Success

8. 2)Principleoflegitimisation:
◦Itisconvincingthegeneralpublicthatthemovement’s
objectivesaremorallyright
◦Threeapproachestolegitimisationare-
◦Theologicalandreligiousapproach
◦Moralapproach
◦Legal-technicalapproach

9. 3)Principleofdramatization
◦Themovement’sleadersgalvanisethepopulationintoactionby
givingemotionalappealandapinchofdrama
◦Someofthemechanismsofdramatizationare–
◦Useofsongsandpoems
◦Powerfulspeeches
◦Roleofwomen
◦Boycott
◦Slogans

10. 4)Principleofmultiplestrategies
◦Indicatestheadoptionofmultiplestrategies,usingcombined
approachesandacombinationofdifferentprogrammes
◦Mainstrategiesare-
◦Educationalstrategy
◦Persuasivestrategy
◦Facilitatestrategy
◦Powerstrategy

11. 5)Principleofdualapproach:
◦Theactivistmustcreatecounter-systemsorresurrectsomelong
forgottensystem
◦Inordertobenefitthemobilisedpublicwithoutinvolvingthe
opponent

12. 6)Principleofmanifoldprogrammes:
◦Developingvariousprogrammeswiththeultimateobjectiveof
massmobilisation
◦Thesecanbebroadlycategorisedintothree-
◦Social
◦Economic
◦political

13. STEPS IN SOCIAL ACTION
1)Awarenessbuildingstage:
◦Consciouseffortsaremadetocriticallyunderstanddifferent
dimensionsoftheproblem
◦Identifytheirrootcauses,socio,economicandpoliticalfactors
◦Attemptsaremadetomakepeopleaware
◦Researchandeducationarethetactics

14. 2)Organizingstage:
◦Exploringpossiblesolutiontotheproblemandcreatingapublic
opinion
◦Organizingthepeoplewithasenseofcollaboration,co-
operationand‘we’feeling

15. 3)Strategydevelopmentstage:
◦Plan,developandadoptasuitableandworkablestrategyto
achievedeterminedgoals
◦Aparticularstrategyisadoptedlookingintotheneedsand
situationoftheproblemontheonehandandtheclienteleon
theother

16. 4)Action stage:
◦Actual implementation of the selected strategies
◦Joint action at mass level

17. STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL ACTION
Lee
◦Collaboration
◦Competition,bargaining,negotiationandadvocacy
◦Disruptionandconfrontation
Hornstein
◦Directaction(picketing,marches,fraternization)
◦Non-cooperation(strikes,taxrefusal,boycotts)
◦Intervention(sitsin,obstruction)

18. MODELS OF SOCIAL ACTION
TherearemainlytwomodelsofsocialactiongivenbyBritto–(Elitist
socialactionandpopularsocialaction)
Elitistsocialaction
◦Actioninitiatedandconductedbytheelitist(fewpeoplewith
higherstatusandresponsibleposition)exclusivelyorwithmarginal
participationofthemasses
◦Therearethreesubmodelsofelitistaction

19. 1)Legislativesocialactionmodel:
◦Theelitegroupconductstudiesonthegravity,extentand
urgencyoftheproblems,createpublicopinionandlobbyto
modifythesocialpolicy
◦Theysetuporbepartofcommissionsandconductstudieson
socialproblemstheyconsidercrucial
◦Thentheyfindscientific,feasibleinterventionwiththehelpof
legislationsandgetthelawandruleapproved

20. Process of this model is –
1) Identification of problems
2) In –depth study of problems
3) Forming commissions
4) Awareness building
5) Forming policy and making laws

21. 2)Economicsanctionmodel:
◦Elitestakecontroloversocial,political,economicorpolitical
institutionsandtrytoobtainbenefitsfortheirclienteleorthe
wholesociety
◦Anexampleishandingcashordonatingmoneytoandthrough
church,mosqueetc

22. 3)Directphysicalmodel:
◦Itistheprocesswheretheelitestakethelawintotheirownhands
andpunishthoseresponsibleforthecauseofinjustice
◦Theymightdothisinordertohelpotherswhichmaycomefrom
humanity,senseofbrotherhoodorspiritualeffectetc.

23. Popularsocialaction
◦Alargesectionofpeoplewithorwithouteliteparticipationis
involvedinthesocialactionprocess
◦Thisalsohasthreesubmodels

24. 1)Conscientizationmodel:
◦ItisbasedonPauloFreire’sconceptofcreatingawareness
amongthemassesthrougheducation
◦‘Educatingthepeopleaboutoppression,oppressedand
oppressor,theirinterrelationship,thepowerstructureandwaysto
liberatefromtheoppressororoppressedclass’

25. ◦Freiresaysthatwhenpopulationisconscientizedthereexist
motivatingpossibilitiesfortrueliberationofmankind
◦Educationcanbeatoolforre-educationandsocialaction
◦Action–reflection–action
◦Toknowistochange(transformthestructuresthroughthe
meansoftheirchoices)

26. 2)Dialecticalmodel:
◦Ithelpsinpromotingconflicttoexploitcontradictionsinasystem,
believingthatabetteralternativesystemwillemergeasaresult
◦Theprocessinvolvesaninitialproposition(thesis),whichis
inadequateandgeneratesacounterproposition(antithesis)and
therationalcontextofbothistakenupinthesynthesis
◦Posingcontradictorypositionsandarrivingatabetterdecisionis
termeddialecticsinlogic

27. 3)Directmobilizationmodel:
◦Specificissuesorgrievancesthatareaffectingthepeopleat
largearetakenupbythesocialactionistsandmassesare
mobilizedtotakepartintheaction
◦Thesocialactionistanalysethecasualfactorsandrootsofthe
injustice,thenformulatealternativepoliciesandproceduresand
mobilizethemassesforprotest

28. GANDHIAN MODEL OF SOCIAL ACTION
◦Emphasisonspirituality,purityofmeansandendsandnon-
violenceasacreed
◦Constructivethinking,mobilization,organizationandactionare
theessentialingredients
◦People’spowerremainsthebasisinallthreetypesofthismodel
1)Militantnon–violent(mobilizethemasstotakeaction.Eg;-
theChipkomovementemergedoutofprotestagainst
rampant deforestation)

29. 2)Gentlenon–violent:(processofpeacefulbargainingor
discussionwithauthoritiestosettletheproblems.Eg;-
Submittingamemorandum andarrangingahumanchain)
3)Citizenshipmodelofconstructivework:(concentratesonthe
grassrootlevelofsocialactivityandconstructiveworkwhile
rejectingcomingintoconflictswithauthorities)

30. SAUL ALINSKY
◦Americancriminologist,author,communityorganizerandsocial
activist(fatherofmoderncommunityorganizing)
◦Books–‘Revilleforradicals’and‘Rulesforradicals-apragmatic
primerforrealisticradicals’
◦Organization–Industrialareasfoundation(IAF)
◦Hismethodisbasedonbuildingpoliticalpowerandusingitto
confrontauthority(generallythroughemployingsocialaction)
andifnecessary,forcethoseinpowertonegotiate
◦Hisideasandtacticswereradical,revolutionaryandoften
controversial

31. QUESTIONS
1) isamethodofsocialworkusedformobilizingmassesin
ordertobringaboutstructuralchangesinsocialsystemtoprevent
adversechanges
A)Socialmovement
B)Socialaction
C)Communityorganization
D)PRA&RRA

32. 2)Socialactionisnotonlyamethodofsocialworkbutan
overridingphilosophybehindit.Thisstatementiscreditedto–
A)A.S.Desai
B)H.Y.Siddiqui
C)P.D.Kulkarni
D)R.R.Singh

33. 3)WhichoneofthefollowingisnotpartofSaulAlinsky’smodelof
socialaction?
A)Attackingthepersonwhoheadstheestablishment
B)Inducinghateandanger
C)Endsshouldjustifymeans
D)Destroyingtheindividualwhoholdspower

34. 4) What is the meaning of social action?
I) a group action to solve mass social problems
II) collective action by members to counter violence
III) organized effort with the aim of solving mass social
problems
IV) issue oriented community work to generate collective
movement
A) I, II, III & IV
B) I, II & III
C) II, III & IV
D) I, III & IV

35. 5) ‘ Conscientization’ approach in community organization is –
A) Providing services
B) Praxis
C) Organizing people at mass level
D) Understanding community for research

36. 6) Principles of social action does not include-
A) principle of dialectical approach
B) principle of legitimization
C) principle of manifold programmes
D) principle of dramatization

37. 7)Popularsocialactioninclude–
A)Economicsanctionmodel
B)Dialecticalmodel
C)Legislativesocialactionmodel
D)Directphysicalmodel

38. ANSWERS
1)B
2)A
3)C
4)D
5)C
6)A
7)B