Human Behavior in a Just World: Reaching for Common Ground [Paperback]

Link and Ramanathan's book will be welcomed for its global perspective on human behavior. The authors' diverse practice experiences shine through in numerous case examples and in their skillful balancing of the concepts of the common human condition and cultural competence.Human Behavior in a Just World was both a joy to read and added considerably to my own appreciation of the rich cultural contribution that can be made by social workers and the social work profession to social development, indeed to human development more broadly, the world over. The authors are to be commended for their dedication in putting together such a far-reaching conceptual volumeone which, at the same time, is packed with rich examples of international practice in both the local and global contexts that many students and teachers will find highly useful.Human Behavior in a Just World makes an invaluable contribution to social work knowledge and practice. By focusing on the common human condition, Link and Ramanathan redirect social work's attention away from its decades-long drift toward an increasingly bifurcated and dichotomized understanding of human behavior. The authors make a compelling case for understanding how the interrelated and interdependent reality of material and social connections influence human behavior, and illustrate how adopting this frame of reference enhances the very nature of social practice.In this important book, Link and Ramanathan discuss the skills, values and knowledge that social workers need to fulfill their role as global citizens. It makes a major contribution and deserves to be widely read.This beautifully written text by authors with a wealth of international, networking experiences will help students develop an appreciation for how much we can learn from other countries.This book is for human service, criminal justice and social work students of human behavior at the 'macro' or large systems level. Due to factors such as the migration of labor, huml"