About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

33 J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare 1 (2006)

handle is hein.journals/jrlsasw33 and id is 1 raw text is: GLOBALIZATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WELFARE
A CALL FOR PAPERS
THE JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WELFARE
Edited by Frederick MacDonald and James Midgley
Although the literature on globalization has increased expo-
nentially over the last decade, the concept is still poorly defined
and its many facets and complexities are under-appreciated. A
major problem is the way the effects of globalization on social
welfare have been reduced to simplistic, rhetorical statements
that either condemn all aspects of globalization or uncritically
extol its benefits.
In reality, however, globalization has complex and paradox-
ical consequences for human well-being. For example, interna-
tional trade is widely viewed by many progressive observers as
being exploitative and unequal and many are appropriately criti-
cal of the way neo-liberal writers wax lyrical about its purportedly
positive impact. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that some
countries have benefited from export-led development, and that
incomes and standards of living have improved as a result of the
increased rate of employment generated through trade. However,
the argument cannot be reduced to a simple dichotomy. Improve-
ments in incomes and standards of living have come at a cost for
many developing countries. Rapid urbanization, congestion, the
decline of traditional values, emotional stress and other nega-
tive manifestations of prosperity now characterize many newly
industrializing, developing countries.
Globalization has also fostered the diffusion of Western cul-
tural beliefs and practices to other parts of the world which many
traditionalists abhor but, on the other hand, it has promoted
communication and more frequent exchanges between people of
different cultures which cosmopolitans view as highly desirable.
As these examples suggest, a proper analysis of the impact of
globalization requires a nuanced understanding of the complex-
ities and paradoxes of the globalization process.
An analysis of this kind not only challenges social work and
social welfare scholars to understand the complexities of global-
ization but to formulate principles, policies and practices that may

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most