98 Book Revi4ws
confidence in the import of his arguments results in his deliberate 'signposting' of the
perceived weakness of the tools of his discipline (economics), his ideological inclination
(Marxism), his terms of reference fo~ the original study (designed by the EEC), and his
organisation of the material. This book thus acquires a significance beyond development
and emergency studies, because it would be a useful book to use in refming 'write ups' of
social science research. It would help many 'blocked' research students who are engaged
in the gruelling business of testing their 'scientific' and 'ideological' hypothesis against
their empirical findings.
I recommend this book both to those interested in development and 'food' and to those
who might gain from seeing how convincing (and rewarding) an argument can be without
a conceptual framework to organise and hammer the points home.
Reviewed by Gerry Salole, Director, Save theOrlldre.n Federation (USA), Harare, Zimbabwe.
Trends in World Social Development. The Social Progress or Nations 1970-1987,
Richard J Estes, Praeger, New York, 1988 (no price available).
The pedagogy of social development assumes a unique position in the context of social work
education, practice, and research (SW-EPR) for two important reasons. First, traditional
social work programmes in the United State do not emphasise, much less require, social
development as an essential or specialised component of professional education. The list
of entries in the Encyclopaedia of Social Work does not include social development
(NASW, 1987). Second, SW-EPR's continuing crisis of confidence as a fullyfledged
profession warrants the exposition of developmental issues beyond its approaches. These
premises have special ramifications for social technology that is designed to improve the
human condition 'Beyond the Third World' (Mohan and Sharma, 1987).
Estes' Trends in World Social Development: The Social Progress of Nations 1970-
1987 is a welcome sequel to his previous study (1984). World trends in this field are
suggestive of numerous dimensions that are crucial for understanding social development
in a cross-national perspective. The Estes report on the progress of nations is timely and
authentic. It is a chilling reminder of the hopeless human condition that people themselves
have contributed to. The focces of dehumanisation - ranging from racism, colonialism and
neoglobalism to hunger, disease and ignocance - thwart societal development and global
welfare. 'Bioglobalism', therefore, should be the ultimate agenda of social development
(Mohan, 1988a). Trends in World Socilll Deveiopmentlendssupportto a global paradigm
that underscores the oneness of humanity, inequalities notwithstanding.
InThe Progress of Nations Estes made a courageous attempt to assess global social
progress in a troubled world. The later book "was undertaken for the purpose of better
understanding themyriad social, economic, andpoliticalfactocs that sustain social inequality"
(pxvi). A perusal of detailed tabular structures indicates the diversities, complexities and
perversities of nations that are preoccupied with games of mutual destruction rather thanrea1
life-enhancing endeavours. "Man is recklessly wiping out life on earth" asserts Linden
lamenting "The Death of Birth" (1989:32). Social development seeks to promote lifesustaining
systems at the expense of destructive projects. Trends in World Social
Book Reviews 99
Dewlopment offers a mOlmtain of developmentally signifIcant data relevant to the
understanding of the regional andgloba1dimensions of social development. The ISsessment
of national progress is attempted in terms of national trends and world rankings. The
methodology of the Smdy is sound and clear. It explains the formulation of the index of
social progress (lSP), criteria for country selection and the socioeconomic development
groupings of different nations. Of special interest are sectors of social development activity:
education, health. women, economic trends, population trends, environmental issues and
development, political participation, cultural diversity and welfare efforts. Students and
teachers of comparative social welfare will find the analyses of geographic 10cale and social
development, regional grouping and "adequacy of social provision," regional changes in
ISP profiles, and regional and subregional analyses of Africa, North America, Latin
America, South Asia, East Asia and Europe both interesting and useful. SignifIcant
develapments since 1984 are appropriately recorded. The Epilogue contains "two
extrllmdinary events", the US-Soviet accord on intermediate nuclear missiles, and the
separation of the Chinese Communist Party from the Government of China. While one can
understand the importance of the INF treaty between the two.superpowers, the author's
subtle admiration of China as "the region's preeminent military andpolitical power" appears
mispIaced. It is counterproductive to applaud the wallows of power that culminate in
supeIpower mentality. As" Asia's superpower" (P164) China can muffie the aspirations of
the emerging AfroAsian countries that constitute the 'underclass' of the global community.
In contrast, I would argue that two most signifICant events that would shape the future of
social development across nations may be conceptualised as: the demise of Reaganism-
Thatcherism and the influence of glasnost. The problems of global welfare, however,
remain eclipsed by the paradoxes of the post-Cold War vicissitudes. The North-South
conflicts and continuing problems of international relations thwart social development
strategies, especially those conducive to developing nations. TherecentGulfCrisls is aCllSe
in point. Theoreticians are beginningtorommticise the superpower balance that maintained
peace md security during the last four decades (Mearsbeimer, 1990).
Social deyelopment is a whole and comprehensive process, and is succinctly analysed
in the following (Gil, 1981:67):
"Social development involves philosophical, biological, ecological, psychological,
social, economic, and political dimensions. In contradistinction to conventional, by
now outdated, notions of economic growth anddevelopment,thecentral criteria for
evaluating social develOJmeDt is evenly shared, balanced progress of the entire
popuIationof aregion, or of the globe, towards enhanced collective, segmental, and
individual wellbeing".
The pretentiousness of contemporary social work has caused massive disorientation
betwemprofessional education and the burning issues of our times. A global consciousness
is sadly missing in our education. Professional concerns for' basic issues like inequality,
injustice, poverty, racism, hooger, human rights, and, above all, world peICC, lire at best
symbolic.
The incorporation of social development content in social work curricula would help
develop amindset lhatiJ conducive to understandinc universal weIlbein&. The skeleton of
a ptnfi&m is proffered here for COIlStrUCting a ftamcwort thtt wouId help strengthen the
1()() Book Reviews
basic premise of a developmental thesis: social development, an essential dimension of
global welfare. seeks to promote human freedom at the expense of the forces of oppression
(Mohan and Sharma, 1985; Mohan, 1985). This conceptualisationinvolves four dimensions,
each consisting of three elements:
1. Conceptual Unification:
1. Zietgeist of global wellbeing and SW-ERP
2. Redefmition of social problems, welfare state. social work and social welfare
3. Reconceptualisation of purpose, mission, issues, and methodology.
2. Curriculum Design
1. Congruence of intecventive approaches and societal goals
2. Incorporation of metavalues in the learning process andentire professional culture
3. Human diversity, owression and social criticism as required components of
professional foundation.
3. Creative Planning and Global Welfare
1. Social policy as the art and science of social regeneration
2. Social development as a means
3. Social reconstruction as a goal.
4. Social Development for the New World Order
1. Fallacies of progress
2. Race beyond races: The 'human' race
3. Universalisation of social justice: postmaterial challenges for human development
and social transformation (Mohan, 1990).
A text that would systematically highlight and analyse these elements is not yet written.
Trends inWorld Social Development will positively serve as the fore:rwmerof studies that
will enrich social deve.lopment as one of the most crucial intellectual activities of the 21st
Century.
Reviewed by Brij Mohan, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
References
Estes R J (1984) The Progress of Nations, Praeger, New York.
Linden E (1989) 'The death of Birth", in Time, January 2, 32
Mearsheimer J (1990) "Why we willsoonmiss the Cold War" in The Atlantic, August, 266,
• 2, 35-51.
Mohan B (1990) "Postmaterial Challenges for Human Development and Social
Transformation", XXV International Congress of Schools of Social Work, Urna,
Peru, August 15-20.
Mohan B (1988) "Comparative Social Welfare and World Peace," in Journal of
International and Comparative Social Welfare, June. 4, 1,38-43.
Mohan B (ed) (1985) Toward Comparative Social Welfare, Schenkman Book Co,
Cambridge, MA. ..
Mohan B and Sharma P (1987) .. Beyond the Third World: a critical holography of the
human condition" in International Journal of Contemporary Sociology, XXIV,
1 and 2, 126-33
Mohan B and Sharma P (1985) ''On Human Oppression and Social Development" in Social
Development Issues, 9, 1, 12-23.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) (1987) Encyclopaedia of Social Work,
Silver Spring, MD, 18, 1.