This volume argues that using social capital to eradicate poverty is unlikely to succeed because its mainstream approach mistakenly assumes that social capital necessarily benefits poor people. The inadequacy of that assumption, Sam Wong argues, calls for a reassessment of human motivations, institutional dynamics, and the complexity of structures in social capital building. Proposing a “pro-poor” perspective, in which poverty-specific outcomes are highlighted, he suggests an exploration of “unseen” social capital is in order—not only to challenge the mainstream understanding of “seen” social capital, but to demonstrate the need for everyday cooperation, which is shaped by social norms, influenced by conscious and unconscious motivations, and subject to changes in priority based on livelihood. A useful volume for both policy makers and practitioners, Exploring ‘Unseen’ Social Capital in Community Participation offers a fresh perspective in thinking about civic and social agency.
Getting Heard is a practical guide to help Hong Kong citizens participate more effectively in public affairs. This Handbook suggests ways that individual citizens can work with each other and with the government in making choices and taking action. It is based on the belief that effective public dialogue benefits both citizens and government. Getting Heard provides concrete information about the specific steps needed to transform an idea or a vision into a reality and explains how you can use this information to influence government bodies and also companies. The Handbook addresses issues such as how to write a press release, organise a campaign and raise money. It includes contact information for individual government departments, government officials and the media. It also includes a sample funding proposal, a template for press releases and other useful information. Civic Exchange believes it is possible to make decisions about public issues in an open and creative manner. The secret to successful participatory decision-making lies in establishing better communication between well-informed people. This is the objective of Getting Heard. The Handbook is aimed at anyone seeking to participate in the dialogue on public affairs in Hong Kong or shape decision-making on a particular issue.
"Given the rapid pace at which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and other Asian economies are growing and the global volatility that these societies are experiencing, social capital and its divers connectivities can furnish useful anchoring to communities, neighbourhoods, local governments and social protection networks. This book provides a critical analysis of social capital, its indigenous evolution and spread in HKSAR. Some of the experiments and activities narrated in this book indicate the ingenious blending of the local ethos and culture with modern organisational forms and information networks." -- BACK COVER.
This book with 24 essays will appeal to local and international readers interested in Hong Kong. The latter include the international financial and business community, researchers in Asian Studies, journalists and educated tourists. Published by City University of Hong Kong Press. 香港城市大學出版社出版。
This book examines the government of Hong Kong since its handover to China in 1997, arguing that Hong Kong has been poorly governed and that this is what lies behind regular mass protests since 2003. It considers the different aspects of these government problems, and assesses prospects for the future.
This book offers the first exploration into the development of social enterprises in the Greater China region, consisting of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mainland China. By drawing on the research and experience of over a dozen scholars and practitioners from across the area, it offers a picture of how a strong State can play an important role as a catalyst in developing the social entrepreneurship sector, particularly by legitimizing it. It delves into the role and impact of institutions and policy on the development of social enterprises, and explains how micro and macro factors might interact in influencing social entrepreneurship. Structured in two parts – policy and cases – it reveals the historical development of the Social enterprises sector in the Chinese context and then illustrates this using cases studies. Providing an alternative view of social entrepreneurship by highlighting the importance of context in this new sector, the book questions whether or not social entrepreneurship is preferable to more conventional models of development. Sparking new interest and offering fresh insight into social entrepreneurship in the Greater China region, this book will be useful to students and scholars of Chinese Studies, Business Studies and Sociology.
Service-learning research has been growing and expanding around the world. While much of the early work was carried out in the US and Europe, such efforts have been developing in Asia for the past few decades. The use of the term, ‘service-learning’ was not popular, while use of community engagement, volunteerism, social services are more common among community practitioners and academics, with the rapid development of service-learning, both research and community-based programs have been growing throughout Asia over the last decade. One of the major movements in that part of the world has been the Service-Learning Asia Network (started in 2005), where more than 11 countries have unified to share their efforts collectively through conferences and journals. In this new book we have examples from five (5) different places: China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and India. These models follow a recent publication of Asian research found in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, published in Summer 2019 after the 7th Asia Pacific Regional Service-Learning conference in Singapore. The chapters represent some of the exciting work that is developing in Asia, highlighting the rich and powerful connections between universities and communities throughout the region. Excellent examples of various kinds of study, from case studies, to qualitative research, to mixed method designs are included. In addition, the focus of the studies, from student learning, community change, innovative practice, and institutional development and change are provided to illustrate the rich diversity of work occurring throughout Asia. Praise for Food for Thought: "The adoption of a community engagement strategy to teaching and learning is found promising by a growing number of mentors. In Asia, colleges and universities have disseminated their own unique experiences in various fora, conferences, workshops and training programs. For one, this book offers a variety of information and rich insights as to the evolution, application, development, and outcomes of service-learning approaches in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India, and Indonesia. The book demonstrates that learning encounters from the ground/community provide a foundation for a critical interpretation of the theories and principles expounded in books and lectures. My university, Silliman University, in the Philippines, is committed to “total human development for the wellbeing of the society and the environment.” For us, this book promises to be a valuable reference for educators in search of teaching that integrates social action and community research. The book illustrates how some research outcomes make a case for institutions to strongly support service-learning efforts in all their curricular programs." Betty Cernol-McCann, Ph.D. President, Silliman University "I have been fortunate to have engaged with many Asian service-learning programs and practitioners for two decades – from the field’s earliest days to its robust present. With publication of this research collection from leading Asian scholars and practitioners Shumer, Ma, and Chan illustrate how deeply embedded service-learning has become within Asian education, and how the emergence of evidence-based scholarship reveals both its complexity and maturity. Similar to how service-learning research evolved in the US, most of the included Asian studies examine outcomes of the practice for education institutions and communities. Others delve into curriculum design and implementation, program planning and development, and affective aspects of students’ experience. Taken together the collected studies illuminate how service learning has evolved as an Asian phenomenon with its uniquely important and very interesting characteristics." Timothy K. Stanton, PhD Senior Engaged Scholar Ravensong Associates Director Emeritus Bing Overseas Studies Program, Cape Town, Stanford University
Tackling inequalities in health is an essential social work task. Every day, social workers grapple with the impact on people's lives of the social inequalities that shape their health chances and experience. This book examines the relationship between social work and health inequalities in the context of globalisation. Based on the practice expertise and research of social workers from developing and developed countries worldwide and using specific examples, this book: · demonstrates the relevance of health inequalities to social work practice and policy across the lifecourse; · analyses barriers to good health that result from global social, economic, environmental and political trends; · develops core ideas on how social workers can act to combat negative effects of globalisation by adopting a health inequalities lens. Social work and global health inequalities is a unique snapshot of a new global social work that is responsive to local conditions and circumstances but seeks partners in the international struggle for equity, rights and social justice. This groundbreaking collection is essential reading for social work students, academics and researchers, and for policy makers, managers and social workers.
Social Finance is a rapidly advancing area of practice, policy and research, with alot of unanswered questions. What does it amount to? What is it to be 'social' in finance? How do you value assets that offer a social as well as a financial return? This book provides a collection of authoritative essays on these and related topics. The essays embrace the different manifestations of social finance, collate existing research, set out the controversies, offer theoretical insights, and advances, and draw together the ideas of the leading thinkers in the field. Contributors to this volume are leading exponents and practitioners of social finance and leading academics from the main relevant disciplines and fields of study. This book is the first serious and comprehensive treatment of social finance and as such, will be of interest to academics with research and teaching interests in finance, social enterprise/entrepreneurship, public policy, business economics and international deveopement to name a few. If you want to understand and join in the academic and policy debates, or if you are working in one part of this field and want to understand how the landscape is being rapidly re-shaped, then this is an essential guidebook.
This book makes a forthright case for a shift in policy focus from 'community cohesion' to the broader notion of social cohesion, and is distinctive and innovative in its focus on evaluation. It constitutes an extremely valuable source both for practitioners involved in social cohesion interventions and for researchers and students studying theory-based evaluation and the policy areas highlighted (housing, intergenerational issues, the recession, education, communications, community development).
