This volume brings together a cross-section of papers presented at the
33rd International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW) conference in Tours,
France, in July 2008. Although it is a more or less random compilation,
the contributions raise important topics offering great insight into the
multiplicity of ways that nations and communities are responding to the
challenges of globalisation as well as internal demands for greater
social justice and equality as well as mechanisms for civil society. The
authors are working across disparate national settings which makes it
especially interesting by providing very different perspectives and
allows as well to look at possible convergences. A main issue is a
global approach to social policy and social development but tailored to
local communities is required. It is as well underlined that limitations
on strict "professional" domains can easily do more harm than allowing
gain.