Development for Whom?

Social work, like many professions, is defined differently across the globe. In the United States, the profession has mainly focused on micro practice with individuals and families, with a greater emphasis on the clinical model.  Many European countries, with large state-sponsored welfare systems, see social work as the implementation of benefits programs; social workers are the facilitators of welfare initiatives.  For developing countries, social work has taken on a broader meaning, and often includes areas of social and economic development.  These stark differences have begun to blur into each other over time as globalization facilitated the sharing of ideas and practices.  Though practice emphases may be different, social workers across the world share a common value base and a commitment to social change. 

Conversations about social change—the most pressing issues and best practice strategies—will also vary between cultures and contexts.  The West, however, has often dominated the conversation because of its privileged place as the originator of the profession and the vast resources it enjoys to both define social problems and develop solutions.   While everyone may agree that integrating areas of economic development, human rights, ecological sustainability, and social welfare is the most effective strategy to increase well-being, Western organizations, political powers, and individuals are often the loudest voices at the table.  This has resulted in “imposed development” (Cox & Pawar, 2010), with rich and politically powerful states and organizations (like the United States, the IMF, and the World Bank) coercing developing countries into macro-level development strategies that may or may not disproportionately benefit Western Capitalist nations while having adverse effects on vulnerable communities.  Western entities have also taken charge of defining development goals for countries, which usually entails some prescribed method for attaining those goals.  Michael Barnett (2005) has argued that humanitarian action has now become an –ism:  a means to transform the world on par with other development philosophies such as communism and neo-liberalism.  The professionalization of NGOs has made these organizations a political force, with power that can either match or exceed political parties in different nations.  These agencies are committed to spreading democracy and development that help to create stable and effective states, not just to alleviate the immediate suffering of the poor and marginalized. 

A prime example of this dilemma is the case of the Millennium Development Goals.  These goals, as defined by the United Nations, have been adopted by many nations that do not have the resources or infrastructure to create their own methods of intervention.  These nations have no choice but to turn to Western organizations that helped to define the Millennium Development Goals in the first place.  These goals have been criticized by some for being too macro-focused and not paying close enough attention to the local experience of individuals and communities.  A country may reach 100% childhood enrollment in schools, but that does not automatically translate to 100% of children being engaged in education.  Without on-the-ground monitoring, evaluation, and input of local communities, the Millennium Development Goals may be met in letter but not in spirit.

Although Western-dominated strategies can have undesirable effects, the fact of the matter is that development cannot happen without the influence of the resource-rich and powerful West.  Most development dollars come from Western states and donors, most Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are based out of the West, and global politics are still led by Western nations.  Students from the United States interested in international social welfare policy and practice (i.e., us) will most likely work for international rather than indigenous organizations and agencies, which means that we must wrestle with the ethical questions of Western-led developmental practices.  Mainly, what should be the role of external aid in a country’s or community’s development?  And how can we, as individual social workers and as a larger profession, define and implement this role?