Perspectives on the Public Sector and Social Policy for the 21st Century

Abstract

This book provides fourteen articles by Norwegian and Latvian social scientists and social workers. Six of the articles discuss matters within public policy and public administration. Themes in these articles include: performance measurement, user participation, government public relations, public management, an assessment of the dynamics of democratization in Latvian society, and old and new borders in Europe. Four of the articles discuss social policy and social work. Themes in these articles include the emerging role of voluntary organizations in the Norwegian welfare state, policy transfer as a concept and its usefulness in clarifying social policy-making in Latvia, community work praxis and the Law Governing Social Services and Social Assistance in Latvia, and solidarity and the welfare state. Finally, four of the articles address the education of public sector professionals. Themes in these articles include: internet-learning, the Lisbon Strategy and the Bologna declaration and their challenges for Latvia, mask-making and body expression as methods in the teaching of ethics, and education in the field of social work in Latvia.

Boka omfatter fjorten bidrag fra norske og latviske samfunnsforskere og sosialarbeidere om aktuell forskning i politikk, offentlig administrasjon og sosialt arbeid i Norge og Latvia.