Human Behavior in a Just World: Reaching for Common Ground

251 Pages·2010·0.968 MB·English

by  Rosemary J. Link, Chathapuram S. Ramanathan

Human Behavior in a
Just World

Human Behavior in a
Just World
Reaching for Common Ground
Rosemary J. Link and
Chathapuram S. Ramanathan
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC.
Lanham (cid:129) Boulder (cid:129) New York (cid:129) Toronto (cid:129) Plymouth, UK
Acknowledgments: We extend our gratitude especially to Luz y Libertad;
to Pravina Ramanathan, J. P. Nayak, Leila Narayanan, P. Ramalingam, and
Sandeep Manchekar for their contributions to case studies; and to Vinni
Thongthi, Anthony Bibus, Vinay Ramanathan, Amy Link, Sophie Link, and
Boyd Koehler for their patient reading of drafts.
Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com
Estover Road, Plymouth PL6 7PY, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2011 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
The second part of chapter 3 is adapted from “Children’s Rights as a Template for
Social Work Practice,” by Rosemary J. Link, in Challenges in Human Rights: A Social
Work Perspective, edited by Elisabeth Reichert. Copyright @ 2007 Elisabeth Reichert.
Reprinted with the permission of Columbia University Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote
passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Link, Rosemary J.
Human behavior in a just world : reaching for common ground / Rosemary J. Link
and Chathapuram S. Ramanathan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4422-0290-0 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4422-0291-7 (pbk. : alk.
paper) — ISBN 978-1-4422-0292-4 (electronic)
1. Social service—International cooperation. 2. Social case work—International
cooperation. 3. Human services. I. Ramanathan, Chathapuram S. II. Title.
HV41.L526 2011
361.3—dc22
2010013047
(cid:2) ™
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Printed in the United States of America
To our families
In loving memory of my father Reverend Donald C. Flatt and my sister
Josephine M. MacRae. Also, to my husband Andrew M. Link, my mother
Gwendoline D. Flatt, and my brother Donald G. Flatt, to let them know
that I cherish them as my constant companions and inspiration. Also to
my children, Sophie D. Link, Amy G. Link, and Alexander M. Link to
thank them for their encouragement and to wish them careers of joy and
usefulness to the world.
In honor of my mother Susheila Swaminathan, my father C. V.
Swaminathan, my wife Pravina Ramanathan, my son Vinay Ramanathan,
and my teachers, clients, and students, for having made me who and what I
am. Also, to my sister Sudha Krishnan, and brother C. S. Venkataraman to
let them know I cherish them as my companions and inspirations.

Contents
List of Figures, Tables, and Textboxes xi
Foreword, Frank B. Raymond xiii
1 Social Work Practice in a Global Society 1
Why Study Issues of Human Development from a Global
Perspective? 2
Global Interdependence as a Value in Social Work Assessment 16
Summary 20
Student Assignments 23
2 Common Human Condition 25
Common Human Condition 27
The Nature of Social Exclusion 30
Sustainable Social and Economic Development 40
Student Assignments 47
Key Terms 49
3 Human Rights and Social and Economic Justice 51
Introductory Vignette and History 57
The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Articles, Goals,
and a Framework for Service and Research 58
The Convention on the Rights of the Child and Implications
for Social Work Practice: Applying the Framework of Eight
Clusters of Articles from a U.S. Lens 60
Summary 75
Student Assignment 78
vii
viii Contents
4 Values, International Ethics, and Their Role in Social Work
Practice 79
Definition of Social Work Ethics 80
Ethical Decision Making in Different Parts of the World 84
Steps for Ethical Decision Making in a Global Context 89
Synthesis of Streams in Ethical Social Work Thought 92
Student Assignments 96
5 Cultural Competence in Local and Global Relationships 99
Definitions and Theoretical Perspectives 101
Culture as Characteristics of People 103
Culture as Personal Awareness of Time, Place, Values,
Beliefs, Self, and Other 105
Building Culturally Aware Practice 108
Asian American Scenarios to Illustrate the Impact of
Discrimination and a Framework to Expand Approaches to
Assessment 110
Additional Scenarios of Discrimination 120
Summary 121
Case Example for Discussion 123
Student Assignments 127
6 Migration and the Borders That Divide Us 129
Immigration Issues: United States 130
Salient Issues Impacting Immigration 130
The Current Reality in Terms of Migration: Case Study India 132
The Documented Experience of Migrants 135
The Role of Local Agencies, Emphasis on Mental Health 141
Political Role of Nation-States with Reference to Post-9/11
United States and the United Kingdom 143
Summary 144
Relevant Websites 146
Student Assignments 146
7 Planet Earth and Sustainable Life 149
The Concept of Stewardship as Part of Collective Well-Being 150
The Impact of Uprooting Families and Toxic Environments
on Children 156
The Role of Corporations in Creating and Dumping Waste 159
The Impact of War and Terror 161
The Role of Social Work 166
Student Assignments 172
Contents ix
8 Global Visions in Action 175
Common Human Condition 178
Human Rights 179
Ethics 180
Cultural Diversity and the Toll of Terrorism 187
Migration and Free Movement of People 192
Earth as Precious Habitat and Sustainable Resource 194
Social Work Education in Global Context 196
Conclusion 201
References 205
Index 219
About the Authors 229