James Midgley is the Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to Social Welfare in Global Context which was published by Sage in 1997, he has published widely on issues international social work and social welfare. He is particularly well known for his work on social work and social policy in the developing world and he is widely regarded as a pioneer of this field. His most important books dealing with social work and social welfare in the developing countries include: Professional Imperialism: Social Work in the Third World, Heinemann.1981; The Social Dimensions of Development; Social Policy and Planning in the Third World, Wiley, 1982 (with M. Hardiman); Social Security, Inequality and the Third World, Wiley 1984; Comparative Social Policy and the Third World (with S. MacPherson) Harvester, 1987; Social Development: The Developmental Perspective in Social Welfare. Sage, 1995; and Social Policy for Development (with A. Hall, Sage, 2004). Professional Imperialism and Social Security, Inequality and the Third World were among the first to address issues of social work and Social Security in the developing countries. Midgley is also a pioneer in the field of international social work. He formulated the proposal for Profiles in International Social Work, one of the first books dealing with international social work which was co-edited with M. C. Hokenstad and Shanti K. Khinduka and published by NASW Press for the World Social Work Congress in 1992. Subsequently, he published two additional books with M. C. Hokenstad on international social work for NASW Press. These are Issues in International Social Work (1997) and Lessons from Abroad: Adapting International Social Welfare Innovations (2004). Midgley's graduate textbook Social Welfare in Global Context which was published by Sage in 1997 has been widely adopted. His other recent books include: The Handbook of Social Policy (with M. Tracy and M. Livermore) Sage, 2000; Controversial Issues in Social Policy (with Howard Karger and Brene Brown, Allyn & Bacon, 2003), and Lessons from Abroad: Adapting International Social Welfare Innovations. (With M. C. Hokenstad NASW Press, 2004).
This book is a tour de force of the theory and practice of social development and how to make a difference in an increasingly inequitable world. It strongly advances the emerging field of social development. Midgley reviews the historical, theoretical and philosophical ideas that underpin the social development approach and a set of social interventions that are widely advocated to promote both micro and macro social change. It is highly recommended for development scholars and practitioners around the world. -- Leila Patel James Midgley has produced a landmark book which for the first time comprehensively defines and draws out the conceptual and practical dimensions of this elusive notion of 'social development'. He underlines the profound significance of social development as an essential prerequisite for promoting balanced societal progress and human welfare. -- Anthony Hall This is by far the most important book on the theory and practice of social development. It deals with one of the least researched domains in contemporary social policy - the relationship between social policy and economic policy. A penetrating analysis and a powerful call for a reorientation of social policy studies. -- James Lee The Global South and North are increasingly aware of commonalities in their social development agenda. Midgley's up-to-date textbook covers all the essential issues recently highlighted, illustrates new thinking with wide-ranging cases and provides theoretical and historical insights into contemporary world poverty and development -- Professor Mitsuhiko Hosaka ...This is an important book that adds significantly to social development theory and practice. It provides excellent background for rethinking social development, the priority theme for the United Nations Commission for Social Development 2015-2016. James Midgley has once again enriched the social development knowledge base and produced a book that is a 'must read' for scholars, students, and practitioners in the field of development. -- Lynne M Healy, School of Social Work, University of Connecticut This book is a milestone in affirming the sincere commitment to achieve social development at household, national, regional and international levels. The overall impression of the book fills the reader with optimism that despite many challenges, progress has been made in that social development is now recognised as a distinctive approach for promoting social wellbeing, not only in the developing but also in the Western world... In all, the book succeeds in providing a convincing intellectual foundation for social development practice. -- Professor Antoinette Lombard, University of Pretoria The book gives examples from around the world, a useful glossary, and an extensive bibliography. It provides lucid and challenging reading for policy makers, development practitioners, development courses at any level of higher education, missionaries, and those preparing to serve in social ministry. -- Paul R. Dekar