This is an edited volume of the proceedings of the 27th Conference of the International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW), held from July 29th to August 3rd 1996. Papers are interdisciplinary with a main theme of social development and societies in transition with a global perspective.

This is an edited volume of the proceedings of the 27th Conference of the International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW), held from July 29th to August 3rd 1996. Papers are interdisciplinary with a main theme of social development and societies in transition with a global perspective. Contributions cover priorities for the environment, for women and the disabled, global trends in social security, social inequality and the Third World, the role of public administration in social development, the role of NGOs, social development, trends in Asia, structural adjustment and social development in Africa, growth in Latin America and social welfare in conflict prevention.

International community - fading dream or rational imperative? the challenge of the millennium ahead, Lord Frank Judd
an enabling environment - international priorities for social development, Julian Disney
social development as an organizing concept for social progress, Stewart MacPherson
women in an era of globalization and fragmentation, Noeleen Heyzer
promoting equal opportunities for women and the disabled in Hong Kong, Fanny Cheung
an exploration of emerging global trends in social security, John Dixon
hunger in the first world - food security and the politics of welfare, Graham Riches
the role of public administration in promoting socio-economic development, Corazon Alma G. de Leon
role of non-governmental organizations in social development - opportunities and challenges, Sharatchandra Damodar Gokhale
social development trends in Asia, 1970-1994 - the challenges of a new century, Richard J. Estes
education for socio-economic upliftment of women and girls - Dhaka Ahsania Mission's experience, Kazi Rafiqul Alam
new vistas - developmental social welfare in conflict prevention, Vera Mehta
poverty alleviation and the role of NGOs, Gordon Knowles
technology transfer and integrated social development - international issues and possibilities for social work, James O. Billups and Maria C. Julia
new democracy - boundaries and resources for development, Dagmar Kutsar et al
human rights or the right to be human, Asha Gupta.