Sustainable Development

 Dorothy N. Gamble
 https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1051
 Published online: 09 July 2013

Summary
This entry describes how the viability of long-term human social systems is
inextricably linked to human behavior, environmental resources, the health of the
biosphere, and human relationships with all living species. New ways of thinking
and acting in our engagement with the biosphere are explored, with attention to
new ways of measuring well-being to understand the global relationships among
human settlements, food security, human population growth, and especially
alternative economic efforts based on prosperity rather than on growth. The
challenge of social work is to engage in socioecological activities that will prevent
and slow additional damage to the biosphere while at the same time helping human
populations to develop the cultural adaptation and resilience required to confront
increasing weather disasters; displacement resulting from rising seas; drought
conditions that severely affect food supplies; the loss of biodiversity, soils, forests,
fisheries, and clean air; and other challenges to human social organizations.

Keywords
 climate change
 community empowerment
 community practice
 community resilience
 economic well-being
 environmental well-being
 global warming
 social well-being
Subjects
 International and Global Issues
 Macro Practice
 Policy and Advocacy
 Poverty
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL
WORK
The functions of social work are to change individuals and institutions with
respect to individual social welfare. Social development focuses on the
institutions of society. It is regarded 5 a basic perspective of social work, cognate
with social treatment. The task of conceptual integration of the various strands of
social development, or "macrostructural" practice, requires the identification and
interrelationship of key elements of community organization, policy analysis,
social planning, and administration. Further, the differences and similarities
between social development and social treatment also need to be identified, for
example, in terms of ideology, worker qualification, "use of relationship,"
influence, scientific method, and resource complexity and constant.

Social work has always been concerned with the development of society as the basis for
achieving the well-being of individuals, families and communities. Interest in this important
aspect of social work is now seeing a resurgence, not only in the ‘developing countries’ of the
global South, but also in the global North. This innovative book provides an introduction to the
area.

Using concrete examples taken from practice around the world, Social Development in Social
Work address questions such as:

 How should social development be understood as a core aspect of social work practice?
 What is the significance of economics, politics and the environment for a developmental
approach in social work?
 How may a comparative understanding of social welfare practices, programs and policies
enhance social development in social work?
 In what ways does social development contribute to international and domestic social
work?
 What skills, knowledge and theory do social workers need to practise in this field?

Arguing that social development should be at the centre of contemporary social work practice
and theory, this book is ideal for social work students and academics with an interest in social
development, international social work, social justice, social policy and community social work.