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But
are we doing what we need to be doing to achieve those goals?
The world is changing and this creates new challenges for all
of us. While our ultimate goals may remain the same, the means
of reaching those goals may need reconsideration. In the changed
circumstances that confront us, when and how do we find the
opportunity to step back from the frantic pace of our work and
to reflect on how best to achieve our goals?
ICSW’s biennial global conference offers a unique opportunity
for civil society policy makers and practitioners, government
officials, academics and representatives from international
organisations working in the areas of social welfare, social
development and social justice. It offers the chance to interact
with and present ideas and practice from around the world, strengthening
our work in the process. All stand to gain new understanding.
This conference will address the widening gaps between North
and South, wealth and poverty, between different religions and
different cultural perspectives. Since the events of September
11, these gaps have been under the spot light. In some arenas,
September 11 and the ensuing political decisions have acted
to polarise these gaps. ICSW’s conference will address
these issues by focusing on good governance, globalisation,
financing and development, effective delivery of social welfare
programmes and other aspects of social development.
In addition to the major themes of the conference, addressed
in the plenary sessions and symposiums, there will be an exciting
selection of sixty workshops. (Please see the inside back cover
for a summary of conference content.) Each workshop will be
a dynamic event representing particular areas of policymaking
and knowledge. It will provide a more intimate intellectual
setting for specialists and interested parties to present and
discuss important areas of thought and practice within their
chosen subjects. The workshops will cover a wide range of topics
including: HIV/AIDS, gender, disability, microfinance, social
and economic exclusion, old age, housing, education, health,
environment, taxation, as well as other social and economic
issues.
In the post September 11 world it is more important than ever
to take this opportunity to strengthen civil society and global
social development goals. There is potential right now to bring
major issues to the fore of the global political arena, or to
miss the boat and allow a few voices to continue to dominate
the agenda. This conference offers delegates an unmissable opportunity
to strengthen and form partnerships, and to enrich cross sector
approaches and knowledge on the issues that matter to you.
For
more information on the conference or to register online please
visit: www.nizw.nl/icsw2002
or for specific enquiries please Emai: icsw2002@nizw.nl
Economic, Social, and Cultural Opportunities
at Global and Local Levels
By Pim de Graaf & Thea Meinema
The 30th ICSW International Conference on Social Welfare has
set itself a daunting task: to explore the existing economic,
social and cultural gaps between countries and people and within
communities – and how to build and strengthen linkages
across these complex divides. Innovative solutions to bridge
these gaps – at the global level through political debate,
supra-national negotiation and social policy development –
and at the local level through the exchange of new and existing
resources, projects, and programmes – will be explored
and discussed.
Globalisation and Poverty Eradication
Globalisation – particularly in economic terms – effects
people all over the world. The effects tend to enhance the position
of those who are already ‘well off’ socioeconomically,
and usually leaves disadvantaged groups more marginalised than
before. And so the gaps continue to widen. Not only does this
situation fly in the face of equity and social justice, it is
also a fertile breeding ground for alienation and hostility
between different communities and groups. The events of September
11th have demonstrated the tragic consequences of such alienation
and the hostility that it gives rise to, making it abundantly
clear that lack of communication and growing enmity was a major
cause behind the tragedy. The attacks and their aftermath have
added an additional layer of complexity to interactions between
different cultural and ethnic groups, not just in the United
States but around the world, by giving rise to xenophobia and
accelerating conflicts. Local communities bear the brunt of
these changes. While policy decisions may be taken at levels
far distant from local realities, the impact of these decisions
are felt most forcefully at the community and individual levels.
One
of the main discussion topics for the conference and a theme
that many conference participants will already be familiar with
is the widening gap between rich and poor. A related issue,
especially in the context of poverty eradication, is exploration
of ways in which public and private finance can make greater
contributions to sustainable economic and social development.
Poverty has a debilitating effect on society and is often the
root cause behind different forms of social exclusion, social
tension and violence. The traditional notion that the world
is divided into a rich north and a poor south does not accurately
reflect the complexities of poverty. This divide between the
‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ also exists
within national boundaries and transects societies in all parts
of the world. For example, in affluent western Europe, 20% of
the children and young people under 18 live in poverty. In other
regions of the world, poverty is much more widespread and serious,
prohibiting people from being able to live their lives in a
meaningful and fulfilling way.
Although global financial institutions like the World Bank,
the World Trade Organisation and the OECD increasingly acknowledge
the importance of social development – social policies
at global, regional, national and local level need to be strengthened
to guarantee equality of opportunity for all people and to reduce
the adverse impacts that free market forces have on vulnerable
groups of people.
Shifting Communities and Paradigms
Urban areas which have lost their sense of community because
of the growing emphasis on individualism attempt to recreate
the feel of village life and a sense of common purpose and shared
responsibility. Communities in rural areas very much try to
maintain a feeling of unity in spite of unemployment and a lack
of resources and services which force people to migrate to the
cities. New and existing communities are faced with the complex
issues of diversity and migration, of housing and health. Demographic
change creates new challenges, such as rapidly ageing populations
and how to support a meaningful role for the elderly in society.
As children and young people grow up in this ever-changing context,
they face new risks and challenges. A new vision of human rights
is emerging that includes the integration of people with disablities,
while the role of women and men in society is constantly evolving
and changing. With each of these developments, a shift in thinking
is required and the question of what new roles are there for
social welfare programmes when needs change so rapidly has to
be answered.
Changing Communities and Paradigms
Many urban areas have lost their sense of community, and are
now attempting to recreate the feel of village life and a sense
of common purpose and shared responsibility. Many communities
in rural areas are also trying to retain a sense of unity in
spite of unemployment and a lack of resources and services which
force people to migrate to the cities. New and existing communities
are faced with the complex issues of diversity and migration,
of housing and health. Demographic change creates new challenges,
such as rapidly ageing populations and how to support a meaningful
role for older people in society. As children and young people
grow up in this ever-changing context they face new risks and
challenges. A new vision of human rights is emerging that includes
the integration of people with disablities, while the gender
roles in society are constantly evolving and changing. Each
of these developments require the constant evolution of social
programmes addressing these new challenges.
Migration
Migration is a global issue that has positive and negative impacts
on countries of origin, on receiving countries and at regional
levels. There are multiple reasons why migration occurs, varying
from the search for better economic opportunities, to fleeing
war or armed conflict. Large numbers of people migrate to foreign
countries as immigrants to earn a better income, support their
families in their home country and provide greater opportunities
for their children. In recent years, the numbers of refugees
has increased while many safe countries have introduced more
restrictive policies to keep people out. Migration can also
be a potential source of stress and conflict in communities
where a multitude of nationalities co-exist. Cultural differences
may form a barrier to contact and communication between neighbours,
while services are challenged in unfamiliar ways to accommodate
ethnically and culturally diverse clients. The transnational
identity of newcomers, who have multiple interests and relationships
in their country of origin as well as in their new environment,
makes participation in their new communities – a sign of
increasing integration - a complex one. While diversity can
easily be seen as a threat to society instead of as an opportunity,
the conference will explore pro-active policies that countries
and regions can implement to address the causes and effects
of migration. Other questions that will be raised include the
relationship between migration flows and social cohesion, the
advantages and disadvantages of different strategies such as
assimilation and pluralism on communities, and what ways can
be used to cope with emerging conflicts and tensions.
The Digital Divide
New technologies have made the world seem smaller and have provided
certain groups of people with much greater access to information
than they had before, either virtually or in reality. At the
same time, the digital divide reinforces the existing gaps between
the have’s and the have-not’s, adding yet another
disadvantage that traditionally excluded groups of people have
to face. The conference will discuss ways of increasing opportunities
for people to benefit from new digital technologies in a more
equitable way.
Conclusion
The ICSW conference will discuss these and other issues of social
development at the local community and global levels; and will
explore the divides and gaps between regions, peoples, nations
and communities. A key aspect of the conference will be to identify
workable solutions that can be used to bridge these many divisions.
The impact of September 11th and its aftermath has not made
this work easier – but has highlighted the critical need
to focus on the relationship between conflict and social development.
The city of Rotterdam provides a dynamic setting for the conference.
With its economic base as one of the world´s largest ports
and its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural population, the city
faces many of the same challenges discussed above. The interactive
conference will encourage participants to exchange their experiences
and views during workshops and plenary sessions, and to contribute
to the development of key recommendations on social development
and social justice.
Pim de Graaf and Thea Meinema work with the Netherlands
Institute for Care and Welfare (NIZW) which is organising the
conference.
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