Social work supports citizens, especially the socially disadvantaged cope with their inability to meet basic needs. Good governance on the other hand describes how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources such that all and sundry, including the sick, poor and challenged, feels the presence of government.
Will social work have a place in societies that uphold good governance?
I think it's a tricky question, because governance is a mix between traditional government strategies and private (civil society) participation. For me, social work tries to minimize the social problems and inequalities that an economic system that is not fair produces. It doesn't matter if governance is good or bad, as long as the system (economic system) needs and produces such economic differences between segments of population, some kind of social work is gonna be needed. "Good governance" does not mean, per se, lack of inequalities. Thus, it will still need solutions for those inequalities (social work).
Well, call me awkward, but if we had the very best governance, we wouldn't much need social workers, would we?
Christopher NOCK
Social work doesn't aim at "extinguish inequalities", it's a discipline that can be provided to everyone, to improve their social health https://www.who.int/suggestions/faq/en/. When thinking about our own lives, we can understand what social work stands for when encountering life challenges or needing wellbeing enhancement. https://www.ifsw.org/what-is-social-work/global-definition-of-social-work/ Who has never felt helpless in the face of a particular situation ?
Good governance for whom? For the haves or the have nots?
Well let us say good governance means "equality" or "each according to his needs and abilities", then social work is less needed. Only providing services that are "addons".
I have a similar observation though a bit related to your question. Every year the public documentaries of Philippine TV journalisms receive award from around the world for being the best in covering social issues like poverty, marginalism, discrimination and so on. I say they win because issues are in the country due to incompetence of the government and not just because they are great at covering issues. Had they been somewhere in Japan or any country where good governance exist, they might still win for a year or two but not every year because of not so many issues to cover.
Yes of course there would be a need for social work because handling social services is not the only aspect of the profession. Social workers assist with conflict resolution, community work, work with organizations and counsel persons through grief or loss. Social workers assist people in managing their finances as well as conduct parenting class etc. So even though a country could be governed with the best and equal share of the resources, there's still a need for our profession.
Thanks Prof Karla Yan Hip
How about when the State provides for ALL these that you mentioned and more?
Social work is only part of the Good Governance story. We can achieve higher levels of Good Governance even by completely neglecting those who are socially disadvantaged but improving social works ultimately will improve good governance.
So your question should be the other way round, If there are good social work definitely there must be good governance and not the way you have put it. Improved social works is an important ingredient to achieving Good governance but not the only one.
The social work will bring the good governance with rigorous accountability culture of the rulers where the commons would be heard and counted.If there is no accountability culture the rulers may come from the mafia doctrine and loot the people at large and deprive them of their basic rights and needs that is happening in the third world for the last 7 decades.
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