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doi: 10.1177/000271626032900102pmid: N/A
In the fifteen years since World War II, the international community has seen marked progress in prolong ing life, providing education for children, and in increasing the world food supply. Progress in the struggle against pov erty and bad housing is much less notable, and the achieve ments in lessening social tensions, in increasing human dignity, and other qualitative aspects of the standard of living are not measurable by the rough indicators we have at our disposal. The attempt to reach a new synthesis in the economic and social aspects of the development of less-developed countries, the widespread approval of governmental planning for social as well as economic development, the growth of public respon sibility for welfare of the total population, and the attention given to rural as well as urban development are cited as impor tant postwar developments in the philosophy and methods of international co-operation. The concern about extending as sistance in ways which stimulate active participation of the people is a hopeful response to the world social situation. Fi nally, the importance of basing assistance on mutual respect— with every country acting both as donor and recipient—is stressed in this co-operation.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900103pmid: N/A
The refugee, a victim of political events, a man uprooted from his homestead and country, finds himself in a strange land where he is homeless, often stateless, and poverty- stricken. The refugee in Hong Kong, for example, who faces this predicament can find his fellow exiles dispersed globally in such countries as The Republic of Korea, India, Syria, West Germany, and Finland. The dimensions of the refugee prob lem in the postwar era estimated to include at least forty mil lion persons are indeed frightening. Yet the enormity of the figure cannot describe the individual misery and human tragedy that have befallen these people. Moreover, neither the end of political upheavals nor the concomitant movement of peoples— the unabated dynamism of the refugee problem—are in sight. This situation demands global recognition. The United Na tions is concerned with the problem but has been able to give support and succor only on a limited basis. The neighboring nations, who have been obliged to bear the brunt of the imme diate crises, must not be left alone to alleviate the misery of these millions.—Ed.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900104pmid: N/A
First, a working definition, or description, of social development is attempted in order to distinguish it from economic or community development. Next, reference is made to factors which have created the tremendous postwar upsurge of interest in social development, particularly in the United Nations and its related agencies. This leads to consideration of problems faced by national governments, particularly in newly independent, underdeveloped countries, as they attempt to meet their responsibilities—often written into their consti tutions—in the field of social development. Each country faces the difficult problem of priorities. Some, like India, frankly recognize the necessity of giving priority to economic and industrial development. Others, like Pakistan and the Philippines, attempt, not always successfully, to strike a bal ance between economic and social development. In still others, certain kinds of social development programs—for example, in health or education—may actually be a precondition of suc cessful economic development. Seldom can less-developed countries give high priority in their social development plans to social security or insurance programs. The article concludes that each nation must resolve the problem of priorities for itself: international or bilateral advice, technical assistance or even financial aid cannot substitute for national effort in the field of social development.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900105pmid: N/A
While the principle of intergovernmental co operation in the field of social welfare was well established prior to World War II, the current widespread activity and proliferation of channels have developed in direct response to the postwar social upheavals and the rising tide of newly in dependent nations. Present intergovernmental co-operation is conducted through a multifarious network of international or gans. There are those linked to the United Nations as well as a more diffuse group of intergovernmental organs with an independent existence. The Economic and Social Council, an organ of the United Nations, which bears the main responsi bility for United Nations social policy is also the co-ordinator of the specialized agencies' social welfare programs. In addi tion to the complex structure of intergovernmental organiza tions, their efforts encompass all facets of the social field. In such an enormous undertaking the major problem is the co ordination of these activities and the channels through which they move.—Ed.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900106pmid: N/A
Since World War II, "social" programs have expanded rapidly throughout the world and there has been in creasing recognition that in the economic development of less- advanced nations, social development must keep pace if nations are to avoid social dislocations frequently associated with in dustrial and urban expansion. Bilateral programs have not given adequate attention to the social aspects of economic development. The United States has made its largest contri bution in the social field in the area of technical assistance to "community development," a movement with broad political, social, and economic implications which is spreading through out the world and is aimed at improving village life. The International Co-operation Administration (ICA) has also en gaged in training of personnel and direct service in the social field but has instructed that social programs must contribute to economic development. Other countries have likewise en gaged in bilateral programs in the social field, but, as in the United States program, they have minimized activities in the social field as compared to economic development programs. Increased attention to social factors can minimize the social problems associated with rapid economic development and in dustrialization and this is urged for future United States pro grams since the United States has the largest bilateral program in the world.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900107pmid: N/A
American voluntary agencies perform on behalf of their constituencies—the American public—extensive over seas operations in many countries throughout the world. They bring medical, educational, agricultural, relief, and refugee services to disadvantaged people wherever they have an op portunity to share their concerns and competence. They co ordinate their activities and co-operate with governmental agencies through informal arrangements such as councils and more formal agreements such as subcontracts. Their voluntary and independent characteristics permit a maximum of experi mentation and close contact with the people with whom they work and share. In so doing they help translate American humanitarian ideals in practical ways. They also bring to communities in the United States firsthand insight of the as pirations and problems of other peoples. This relationship helps the needed communication and understanding in an inter dependent world. Foundations have grown in number and scope to supplement the work of the traditional voluntary agencies. Some carry on their own programs; others prefer to work through existing organizations.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900108pmid: N/A
Central America has been one of the pioneer areas for the United Nations Children's Fund assisted pro grams. When the United Nations Children's Fund, under a broadened mandate from the United Nations, shifted the emphasis of its aid from emergency to long term and from war-torn countries to those economically less developed, Cen tral American governments immediately requested its assist ance to strengthen and extend services to children and mothers. As one of the first areas in the world to aim at the eradication of malaria and to have engaged in an inten sive campaign against malnutrition on a regional basis, the Central American experiences in these fields have become known, watched, and studied by people from many countries. Against this background, international and bilateral organi zations are working together with governments as they broaden the scope and the extent of their programs. Ten years of co-operative action have highlighted the need for train ing of personnel, both professional and auxiliary. This period has also made clear the value of more integrated programs with wider collaboration both within the ministries of government and between the international organizations.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900109pmid: N/A
Social development in British African territories has consciously been undertaken by governments only since the end of World War II. Initially it took the form of remedial methods to deal with social problems accentuated by the war. The work of government social welfare departments and volun tary agencies assisted by international aid could not, however, be confined to the provision of remedial services. The under lying social ills had to be attacked as well. Social welfare workers were among the pioneers in community-development work in several territories in Africa; their work originally begun in the towns now reaches more and more into the outlying areas. This is particularly true in the case of Ghana, Uganda, and Tanganyika. In most African territories, social welfare and community development are administered through a single Ministry of Social Development so that remedial and construc tive measures are correlated.
doi: 10.1177/000271626032900110pmid: N/A
The creation of the state of Pakistan, following in the wake of the bloody partition, the mass migrations, as well as the resultant concentration of people, culminated in a situation where the human needs could only be fulfilled through organ ized and planned social welfare. Industrialization was the apparent need for a largely agricultural country. But the Muslim population with its inbred tradition of social justice and equality reinforced the stress on social welfare. There emerged, therefore, a policy that demanded a balance between economic and social planning. Social work begun by volunteers was shaped by government efforts. International assistance was requested and personnel was secured to institute the needy training of local persons. Among the varied projects which developed, perhaps the most noteworthy was the emergence of the Village-Aid Programs and the Urban Community Develop ment Programs. The simultaneous activity of the government and the voluntary agencies facilitated rapid and dramatic prog ress in the planning and organization of welfare services.—Ed.
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