Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World

Revitalizing Communities in a Globalizing World provides a thought-provoking and compelling contribution to the dialogue of globalization. This remarkable collection of essays takes us beyond the personal into the global realm, bringing together an interdisciplinary team of social work educators and social scientists to challenge neoliberal dogma. This book tells it like it is, and why it is like it is.Professor Katherine van Wormer, University of Northern IowaRevitalising Communities is an exciting book that explores the opportunities and constraints that the dynamics of globalisation present for human development in a range of different countries and situations. Arguing that globalisation currently is a system of organising social relations along neoliberal lines, it examines practical examples of how people respond to significant social changes in their communities. The book encompasses a number of case studies that speak to policymakers, practitioners, educators and students interested in studying globalisation and making the most of its potential for change in realising human aspirations for producing better living conditions.Revitalizing Communities is designed around the exciting premise of exploring the opportunities and constraints that the dynamics of globalization present for human development in a range of different countries and situations. Arguing that globalization currently is a system of organizing social relations along neoliberal lines, it examines practical examples of how people respond to significant social changes in their communities. The idea of communities is deconstructed to show that globalization has collapsed the boundaries of time, space and place in ways that have exacerbated inequalities at the same time as giving rise to economic growth that has produced unparalleled riches for some. The book encompasses a number of case studies that speak to policymakers, practitioners, educators and students interested in studying globalization and making the most of its potential for change in realizing human aspirations for producing better living conditions for all at a time when the degradation of the physical environment is presenting its own challenges for economic developments that ignore the links between people and the conditions under which they live.Contents: Part I Theories and Concepts for Practice: Revitalising communities: introduction, Lena Dominelli; Globalising communities: players and non-players, Lena Dominelli; Globalisation and imperialism: wars and humanitarian intervention, Ankie Hoogvelt; Discourses within and about social work, Irene Levin; The paradox of risk assessment, child safety and empowerment in child welfare, Mariliyn Callahan and Karen Swift; The road less travelled: reconstruction, welfare and social development in South Africa, Mel Gray and Bill Mitchell; Social work, collective action and social movements: Rethematising the local-global nexus, Carolyn Noble. Part II Practice in Changing Communities: Feminist, anti-racist community development: critical alliance, local to global, Margaret Ledwith and Paula Asgill; Community participation: a critical appraisal of the role of ''community'' in urban regeneration, Gary Pattison; Community development strategies in the UK, Keith Popple; Globalised microfinance: economic empowerment or just debt?, Ingrid Burkett; Community development in contemporary Croatia: globalisation, neoliberalism and NGOisation, Paul Stubbs; Learning through our children, healing for our children: best practice in First Nations communities, Jacqui Green and Robina Thomas; Against the odds: community-based interventions for children in difficult circumstances in post-apartheid South Africa, Vishanthie Sewpaul and Dorothee Hölscher; Communities of gatekeepers and communities of advocates: being disabled in Eastern Europe, Darja Zavirsek; Ethiopian migration: challenging traditional explanatory theories, Abye Tasse; Globalisation: implications for internati