Speaker

Ms Lin Gong
PhD Candidate
Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Toward a more equitable society? Rural-urban integration and perceived social justice in China

Abstract Narrative

“While rural-urban integration has become a predominant trend in China, its impacts on perceived social justice are rarely discussed. This study investigates how rural-urban integration exerts an impact on citizens’ perceived social justice in the context of China’s rapid urbanization. Combining data from the 2015 Chinese General Social Survey (N=10,777) and the China Rural-urban Integration Index Yearbook on 28 provinces, we estimate the confounding effect of rural-urban integration on social justice perception and explore the underlying mechanism. We focus on three specific aspects of rural-urban integration: dual economy, living quality, and social protection. Results from the multilevel analysis show that as rural-urban development follows a more integrated pattern, the multi-facet reforms have created divergent impacts: 1) a higher level of rural-urban economic integration is associated with lower perceived social justice; 2) a higher level of living quality integration is associated with lower social justice perception; whereas 3) a higher degree of social protection integration is associated with higher perceived social justice. The positive relationship between welfare consolidation and perceived social justice is further interpreted as a result of opportunity equity achievement. Highlighting the ongoing institutional changes in China, this study sheds new light on the impact of contextual factors on social justice outcomes, and bears important policy implications for designing and implementing future rural-urban integration programs. As economic growth nurtures more critical attitudes on social justice, it is critically important to equalize access to education, social insurance, and social assistance in order to meet the actual needs of citizens and to improve their perceived social justice in a rural-urban integrated society. Findings of the present study will provide valuable insights for future policy adjustments in the long-term social development in China.

Keywords: Perceived social justice; Rural-urban integration; Social protection; Urbanization; Chin

Biography

I am a third-year Ph.D. student from the Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. As a student majoring in social welfare and social policy, my research interests mainly focus on quantitative analysis, welfare policy, and healthcare reform in the context of China’s New-Type urbanization. My recent work investigates the relationship between rural-urban integration and the perceived social justice of individuals using multilevel data collected from 28 provinces in China.

Dr Paramita Roy
Associate Professor
Visva-bharati University, Department of Social Work

“University-Community Partnerships: Future directions in Social Development Tagore’s Sriniketan Experiment in today’s context “

Abstract Narrative

NEW ABSTRACT SUBMISSION:
It is well known that the poet Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was also a social reformer. ‘Sriniketan Experiment’ was his pathbreaking intervention in rural reconstruction. Rabindranath wanted a total improvement in the villages taking in agriculture, education, health and social living. Sriniketan’s contribution to village reconstruction work is this concept of a total approach. At the Sriniketan centre economists, agriculturists, social workers, doctors, midwives and specialists in various fields of rural industry and education experimented and worked together to solve different aspects of rural problem. Villagers came with their problems and tried out some of the results of the experiments in their fields. Research and application of research made up the Sriniketan method. That was its Extension work. In addition a scout movement was organized, known as the brati-balaka samgathana. It was started at village Mahidapur in 1922. The aim was to make the village self-reliant. It was hoped that mobilizing the children would draw in the elders. The objective was to awaken in the minds of the village elders, torn by disputes among themselves, the need for cooperation as well as to remove from their minds suspicion over Sriniketan. Tagore later was successful in setting up a fully fledged university including the twin campuses of Santiniketan-Sriniketan. His initiative at integrating education with social upliftment can be remembered and selectively innovated upon to forge a successful social initiative involving the University-Community partnership in the present century. This will help in proper utilization of resources of developing countries in the welfare service delivery and planning sector and also in the academia.
In this paper a qualitative research design is followed. In-depth unstructured interviews were administered to faculty, staff and students of Social Work, Institute of Design and Rural Extension Department in Sriniketan, Visva-Bharati (University founded by Tagore) to know the extent of Tagore’s rural reconstruction being successful till date (in terms of activities, funding and people involved) and the future areas of work in the University-Community partnership. The paper has also incorporated responses from senior University administrators, present and retired, and residents in the University neighbourhood and village resource persons in the nearby areas, about how far the socio-cultural commitments of Rabindranath Tagore to the village communities around were functioning till today, if at all and in what form. They were also requested to comment on future collaboration within the formal structure of the University (which was not present in Tagore’s times) in the present context and the communities, particularly specific groups like artisans, farmers, people into addiction, the elderly etc. The data were coded and categorized and proved enriching enough to trace the present functioning of the initiatives of rural reconstruction and identifying the constraints and opportunities including innovative ideas justifying a greater role of the educational institutions in the communities. A thematic analysis of these interviews was then reflected upon to put forward a conclusion on the future scope of University Social Responsibility and its contribution to social development.

Biography

I, Dr. Paramita Roy, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India for two decades. I am trained academically in Economics and Social Work. I have been teaching economic policies, social development and research methodology for graduate and post graduate students. I am supervising several doctoral students and have gender violence, rural indigenous industries, women and work, adolescent health, health insurance for the poor, disability studies and social governance as my research interests. I have contributed to journals, books and have participated in various academic deliberations. I am also involved with various welfare organizations for community based welfare initiatives.

Dr Rong Xiang
Institute of Social Work, Yunnan University

Theme 8A

Dr Aamir Jamal
Associate Professor
University Of Calgary

Lessons from COVID-19 on Mutual-aid and Global Community: An Anti-oppressive Canadian-Pakistani Partnership

Abstract Narrative

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the socio-economic stresses and inequities of marginalized communities across the globe, from mental health and violence to employment and food security. The assistance of social workers from local to global contexts is required now more than ever. In Pakistan, communities in conflict-affected remote areas bordering Afghanistan received a hard hit during the lockdown. Women, children, and transgender communities have been especially impacted. The Canadian Association for Children’s Education in Pakistan (CECEP) collaborated with Alberta Assembly of Social Workers, the Alberta Men’s Network, and Haashar Association to create a global community of practice to support the most marginalized population in Northwest Pakistan and Nepal. Working from an anti-oppressive framework, we connected with local social workers, faith-based organizations, and neighborhood groups to develop a network of mutual aid, raise funds, deliver food hampers, conduct advocacy campaigns for the most marginalized and increase COVID-19 awareness. Through grassroots solidarity work and networks of mutual aid, urgent socioeconomic support was provided, culturally appropriate tools of knowledge dissemination were developed, and our network for future equity work was strengthened. This paper explores the development of international mutual aid networks, including challenges and strategies for timely, innovative, and community-led social action in times of crisis. Key learnings for post-pandemic community organizing and social work solidarity actions are highlighted.

Biography

Dr. Aamir Jamal is Associate Professor of International Social Development and Social Policy and Director Global Engagement and International Partnerships at the University of Calgary. With a unique background that combines a PhD in International Social Development from the University of Calgary, a MBA from Adelphi University, New York, and over 25 years of work in the development sector, Dr. Jamal brings a valuable blend of knowledge and experience to research, policy and practice.