As we all watched the horror that was the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a small group of technologically sophisticated people worked behind the scenes to shore up the social safety net that was as vulnerable as the levees that protected New Orleans. Existing organizations, such as the Community Technology Centers leapt into action.  At the same time, new organizations, like Katrina find, organized themselves quickly to provide services that were often unavailable or incomplete. For the people who had their lives changed by these on-line heroes this was probably enough.  On balance, this might be the beginning of something even more significant.

In 2003, Berkman scholar James F. Moore posted a fascinating paper entitled “The Second Superpower rear’s its beautiful head”. In it, he argued that political action via the Internet could counterbalance the power of the United States in International affairs. Perhaps something similar is happening in social welfare. We might be seeing the emerging face of either a second social welfare system or the one that will replace the existing system.

It’s not like this would be a complete surprise.  In the past few decades, devolution, privatization and other forces have replaced huge hierarchies, to some extent, with systems that look like networks. Maybe not the networks we would envision but certainly a move in the right direction.  E-government has brought in the idea of on-line services, single points of contact and virtual participation.  Again, not perfect but still, promising. We are also seeing virtual advocacy groups, like Move On, and virtual services, such as online therapy and counseling. We also have an emerging global information economy.  Social welfare scholars have long thought that there might be a relationship between the type of social welfare system and the nature of the economy. A new system might be inevitable.

There are also some substantial barriers.  The digital divide for example is going to be a real challenge.  There is also the vast amount of power concentrated in the existing system and transferring resources will be difficult. It is also doubtful that all of the functions of the existing system can be duplicated by existing technology.

Networks have often been successful at outflanking hierarchies. There are major limitations of the current system.  Many people are not served, underserved or poorly served.  Some of our social policy looks remarkably similar to the Elizabethan Poor Laws and we have a bewildering array of policies, jurisdictions and programs.  Sadly, it is all too easy for social welfare organizations to ignore the communities they serve.

When the current system was created at the dawn of the industrial revolution, communities came together to build new systems using new knowledge to meet human needs.  Things have changed.  We have the opportunity to build a new system that nurtures communities and promotes the development of all of our citizens. Community technology can make a substantial contribution to helping our communities shape a new and relevant response.


Reference:

Moore, James F.  (2003, March 11). The Second Superpower rears its beautiful head. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Law School, the Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Retrieved from the Berkman Center web site on October 4, 2005.


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Is the Internet the New Social Welfare Delivery System?

John McNutt's Electronic Advocacy Web Site

Moreover, I Am Not An Economist