Reading · Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk

Authors

DOI:

Abstract

This article contributes to a collection of especially commissioned papers to mark the 60^th anniversary of Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk. Reflecting the author’s personal views on the past, present and likely future trajectory of social development, he contends that there has been significant progress, but also severe setbacks that have fostered the currently pessimistic views of the field. Nevertheless, he contends that stubborn optimism is needed and that a commitment to change can mobilise support and result in renewal and significant social improvements. The recent 2025 World Summit on Social Development in Doha suggests that much is possible.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

James Midgley, University of California

School of Social Welfare

Published

2026-06-20

How to Cite

Midgley, J. (2026). Reflections on social development: Past, present and future. Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 62(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.15270/62-2-1832

Issue

Section

Special contributions

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.

Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.

The following license applies:

Attribution CC BY-4.0

This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.

Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.