Seeds of Fire

Social Development in the Era of Globalism

Elizabeth Whitmore, Maureen Wilson

Wilson and Whitmore, two activists with a history of “walking the talk” of working for social justice, offer a well researched, provocative wake up call for everyone concerned with the survival of democracy in the next millennium. Seeds of Fire inspires allies of popular movements for the work of the next century. -Patricia Maguire, Faculty of Education, Western New Mexico University. It balances theory with examples of what the authors call “accompaniment,” an engaged and values driven way of working as political allies with women and men who organize to change their lives. An excellent text for sociology, social work, adult education and international development courses. -Budd L. Hall, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. At last we have a volume which not only describes the impact of globalization but also begins to suggest what can be done about it. A timely and important contribution. -John Gaventa, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex This is an excellent and useful volume. It is well timed, helping us to understand how ordinary people everywhere can act, as subjects, to transform their worlds. Seeds of Fire points us to ways in which we can build international solidarity, in a process of globalization from below. -Orlando Fals Borda, Professor Emeritus, National University of Colombia

Contents

• 1. The Age of Disposable Humanity 
• 2. The Transnationalization of Popular Movements: Globalization from Below 
• 3. Labour and Populism in Latin America 
• 4. Accompanying the Process: Principles for International Development Practice 
• 5. Gender and International Development Praxis 
• 6. Professional Contributions: Social Work and International Development Practice 
• 7. State Strategies in International Social Development: Canada and the Rise and Fall of the Sandinistas 
• 8. Research and Popular Movements 
• 9. Challenging the Race to the Bottom 
• Appendices 
• References 
• Glossary

About the Authors

Elizabeth (Bessa) Whitmore is professor emerita at Carleton University’s School of Social Work.

Maureen G. Wilson is a professor in the Faculty of Social Work and cochair of the Consortium for Peace Studies at the University of Calgary.

Excerpt

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