HETTEŠ, M.. 2013. Social cohesion and security in social work (Social cohesion and flexicurity). 1st Edition, UKF Nitra, 2013, 201 p. ISBN 978-80-558-0256
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the university textbook on social cohesion and flexicurity is to provide information on the concepts and essence of social policy at the international level, on the European continent, at the national, regional and local levels. It is based on generally accepted knowledge in European social policy and from the perspective of globally applied social work at the moment. The goal of this work is to make this knowledge available primarily for the study of social cohesion and flexicurity with a connection to social work. The text is intended to serve as a source of wider knowledge and information for other subjects where social work solves the problem of unemployment, social work in the village, social work in public administration and other areas. The university textbook will present social policy approaches to solving current social problems in various objects with the help of active social work.
The starting point for understanding the importance of cohesion in society is also an explanation of the strategies and methods of social policy and social reforms, familiarization with the course of social reform, with the current current system of social protection in the Slovak Republic, in Europe and in the world. We will also focus on individual areas of social policy (e.g. social protection, social security, social insurance and other areas).
The interpretation is focused on selected branches of social policy in relation to solidarity, cohesion and inclusion. At the same time, we want to provide information about the possibilities of obtaining additional statistical and factual resources for further work. We want to present social policy in the sources and international legal documents of international organizations, as well as in selected countries of the European Union, and point out recent and current trends in European social policy.
The purpose of this work is also to provide information and knowledge about the changing world in our surroundings and in a relatively more distant area. It is based on the idea of a person as a social creature, whose satisfaction and life depend not only on him but also on the society he co-creates and which equally influences and shapes him. In the course of the relatively short human life of one generation, a fundamental demographic revolution and global transformation of human society is currently taking place. The ongoing changes have a significant impact on the existence of humanity and its further development.
From the point of view of the limits of knowledge of the author himself and from the practical educational needs of this work, the presented goal is focused on the field of social work. Social work is generally defined as a human-legal profession that implements social policy based on generally accepted values and norms. Such values include the right to social security and the right to a dignified life for every member of society.
The world, which until recently had the characteristics of significant certainties and slow change over several generations, has entered a state of rapid revolutionary transformation. Every human being perceives this transformation during their lifetime. It is necessary to know this transformation, it is necessary to teach people to live in a constantly changing world, so that they can manage their lives better.
In today's world, uncertainty and tension are increasing. Change and uncertainty in social guarantees (certainties), changes in values, job insecurity, job insecurity, changing family and the necessity of learning in every phase of life calls for the need for a different philosophy of preparation for life. The absence of such preparation causes dissatisfaction with life, social insecurities, irreparable decisions and diseases. Social work has a significant preventive role in preventing the deterioration of the health status of the population.
The principle of solidarity is inherent in the European Christian understanding of a just society. Slovakia is part of the European integrating community, currently expressed in the form of the European Union of Solidarity. More and more, Slovakia and with it the other member countries are more closely integrated into the unified European community. Europe sees the possibility of further sustainable life in achieving a cohesive society without fundamental social differences in society internally and externally (within the EU, but also more widely). Europe is interested in all its parts and its members also behaving similarly (cohesively). After all, it is not for nothing that Europe can be etymologically translated as curious (okatá) according to the old Greek.
The European social model is based on a market economy, in which there is relative certainty of securing social values and cohesion. The EU does not perceive social security as a marginal, but as a basic prerequisite for economic development. The further growth of the economy and the change in the nature of work caused the need for a more flexible response in working life as well. It is equally important to reconcile the demands of the work part of life with its social and family part.
Cohesion must be accompanied and ensured by inclusive growth. I.e. growth that benefits everyone. Flexibility in the labor market must be linked to social security. It is no longer possible to talk about securing a specific place on the labor market, but about job security in general and, consequently, about the security of an adequate standard of living in general.
In June 2012, there was a fundamental change in the paradigm of social protection and social policy. At that time, the International Labor Organization in Geneva approved a recommendation on the right to a social minimum for every person. The world will produce enough necessities so that no one suffers from basic need. It is enough to set the rules to ensure a fair society. This is what social work should be about, as a human-legal profession within the principles set by social policy.
The translated topic is broad, so the reader should also use the other literature offered here.
Miloslav Hetteš
CONTENT
1 COHESION AND FLEXIBILITY IN A GLOBALIZED SOCIETY 2 SOCIAL COHESION IN SOCIAL WORK 3 GLOBAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL WORK 4 SLOVAK SOCIETY AND COHESION 5 SOCIAL COHESION POLICY 6 PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL POLICY FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF COHESION 7 SOCIAL NEED 8 SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIETY 9 SOCIAL SECURITY AND EQUALITY 10 VALUES IN SOCIAL POLICY 11 WELFARE STATE 12 GLOBALIZING SOCIAL POLICY OF COHESION 13 SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY 14 SOCIAL EUROPE 15 SOCIAL WORK IN THE EFFORT FOR GLOBAL SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
CONCLUSION
This university textbook aimed to point out the need for social cohesion and certainties in human life, as they are reflected in social work today. General happiness, satisfaction and social development is based on prioritizing common goals over private desires, on cooperation rather than competition, on mutual co-responsibility, in short on social cohesion, social security and solidarity. Social cohesion (cohesion) is based on the division of labor and social organization. Social cohesion in its formal expression is built on laws and rules that have their own control mechanism. Just social communities (society) need social cohesion, care for the dependent, social work, common standards, ethnic and cultural identity. Social networks and social ties contribute to informal social control. The behavior of community members towards each other (neighborly behavior) is the basis of social cohesion. The degree of social cohesion in a community can be determined by the degree to which its members positively feel mutual social cohesion and by how they apply informality in controlling compliance with social norms.
Changes in society and globalization teach us that economic and political freedom condition each other. Free entrepreneurs and private business belong unconditionally to democracy. Free enterprise must not be understood as the only permanent goal of society, but it is an important element of a free society.
Our society (not even Slovak) has no objective reasons for poverty and unhappiness to exist. Only if due to the unfair organization of society, social injustice, unjustified waste of non-renewable resources, destruction of the environment, disrespect for life and due to recognition of unsustainable values.
Individual chapters explain changes in society and their reflection in social work. Demographic change, unemployment and adequate social protection must be addressed with a European approach based on solidarity. Social work must be based on the need to solve social needs in the sense of the generally established framework of obligations contained in human rights documents. Advancing globalization carries out fundamental social changes, affects e.g. on the structure and status of the family. Despite the undoubted progress, the European and our society is faced with the problem of solidarity. The problems of institutionalization or addressability in social services and social protection in general are unresolved. The work provided the latest world and European views on these and many other issues.
The work frames Slovakia in international cooperation. A large place was devoted to the globalizing efforts for a coherent social policy by international organizations. Social workers as practitioners associated in the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), as well as educators through their International Association of Schools of Social Work (ISSA) and the general public represented by the International Council for Social Development (ICSW) are together active in efforts to address global issues through their social. This joint procedure is also applicable and instructive for Slovak social work.
In the thesis, we explained the importance of social cohesion and security for society and for social work in particular. The university textbook will serve social work students at all levels who need to know the basics of contemporary applied social work.
Author: doc. RNDr. Miloslav Hetteš Reviewers: doc. PaedDr. Peter Jusko, PhD. Faculty of Education, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica doc. PhDr. Ladislav Roman, PhD. University of Health and Social Work St. Elizabeth in Bratislava doc. PhDr. Emília Vranková, PhD. University of Health and Social Work St. Elizabeth in Bratislava
Publisher: University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, 2013 First edition ISBN 978-80-558-0256 EAN 9788055802565