4 Opportunity
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John Gal
Abstract
This chapter explores the specific institutions in which policy is formulated and the impact that these can have on efforts by social workers to affect social policy. The goal of the chapter is to shed light on the place of institutional opportunities in shaping levels and forms of policy engagement by social workers. The notion of opportunity structures is employed as a conceptual foundation for a better understanding of the relevance of the policy environment for the policy engagement of social workers. In addition, the neo-institutional literature, which underscores the role of norms and rules in determining the policy process, is employed as a way to think about the access of social workers to policy processes. The chapter relates to the national and local levels of policy engagement by social workers, and draws upon examples from various countries to illustrate the ways in which the form of social workers’ involvement reflects institutional facets and opportunity structures in different national contexts.
Abstract
This chapter explores the specific institutions in which policy is formulated and the impact that these can have on efforts by social workers to affect social policy. The goal of the chapter is to shed light on the place of institutional opportunities in shaping levels and forms of policy engagement by social workers. The notion of opportunity structures is employed as a conceptual foundation for a better understanding of the relevance of the policy environment for the policy engagement of social workers. In addition, the neo-institutional literature, which underscores the role of norms and rules in determining the policy process, is employed as a way to think about the access of social workers to policy processes. The chapter relates to the national and local levels of policy engagement by social workers, and draws upon examples from various countries to illustrate the ways in which the form of social workers’ involvement reflects institutional facets and opportunity structures in different national contexts.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
