Social Action

Social action is not only concerned as opposed to

individual action but it involves a legal methods as
opposed to illegal, and objectives that are social in
character or effect as opposed to those that are antisocial (Finch J A 1939: Social Work Year Book)
In the beginning waned under the spell of
psychoanalysis and the constraints of a respective
political climate
This continued until 1960s
Used as a means to fill up the empty space in the
community and occupy power vacuum (Rossi, P
1961)
A process of individual, group or intergroup endeavor,
within the context of social work philosophy,
knowledge and skills. (Solender S 1957; SW Year
Book: NASW)
Methods : research; organised advocacy ; direct effort
to influence policy making

Continued..
Wickenden relates social action to policy and
change. It is that aspect of organised social
welfare activity directed towards shaping,
modifying, or maintaining the social institutions
and policies that collectively constitute the social
environment. They focus on policy and its
administration (Wickenden, E. 1965; Thursz 1971)
Social action is the public promotion of a cause,
measure, or objective in an effort to obtain
support or official action (Dunham, A. 1970)
Distinguish two forms of social action :
1. Procedural or political action which is carried on
through established parliamentary or formal
organisational procedures
2. Direct action implies greater physical and
emotional involvement of the participant , often
accompanied by a militant spirit and deep
commitment

Continued
Jack Rothman (1970) three model of community
organisation practices : community development ,
social planning and social action
Social action model presupposes a disadvantaged
segment of the population that needs to be
organized, perhaps in alliance with others, in order
to make adequate demands on the larger
community for increased resources
Social action within the context of power and the
struggle over community resources
Social action refers to those organised and planned
activities that attempt to influence the social
distribution of status, power and resources (Joseph A
Paull 1971 )
A linkage to the theory of social conflict key
concepts power and conflict and social action is
associated with movement leading to redistribution
of resources

Continued.
The concept of organisation as the framework
for studying all forms of community work and
social planning. The focus is on the change in
power relationships and resources or redressing
a power imbalance as the central to social
action ( Robert Perlman and Arnold Gurin 1972;
John Levin Ecklein and Armand A Lauffer 1972)
A strategy to obtain limited social change at
the intermediate or macro levels of society
which is generally used in nonconsensus
situations and employs both non-adhering and
norm testing modes of intervention ( S K
Khinduka and Bernard J Coughlin 1975)
Three concepts are fundamental to this
definition: the scope of change, the use of
power in effecting and resisting change, and the
change strategies applied.