In different countries the profession of social work has "done its work" for more or less than a century. In Lithuania its history is revived and closely related to social transformation that has taken place after the restoration of Independence in 1990. The question of how fully, if at all, social work has achieved professional status has been debated throughout the last century. It is known that efforts to evaluate whether social work is a "semi-profession" or a "fullydeveloped" profession have been made by J. Baird. Already in 1972 social work was considered as a profession. In the opinion of J. Baird to evaluate the status of the profession depends on whether social work is being measured by classical criteria of once "free" professions, or by contemporary criteria that are relevant to helping professions which are substiantially committed to public and governmental service enterprise. The present picture of the professionalization of social work has changed. American social work's aspirations to professionalization is a natural process in a liberal market economy, because the profession is created and strengthened as a result of the personal interests of those earning a living by it. The status of social work as a profession is not unequivocally fixed. There are some aspects that are considered as negative to the professionalization of social work. Namely, the private practice of social work which is said has been growing dynamically since the middle of the 20th century. But with the dramatic rise of medical care, social workers are said to return to their original mission. The nature of professional practice in any particular state is grounded in the historical and cultural context as mediated through political, economical and social systems. This makes social work difficult to define at the global level, and attempts to identify a universal essence of social work are problematic. Despite this apparent difficulty, there are some general definitions of social work. Definitions provoke many questions. Is it possible to develop a universal definition of social work? If so, how well does this definition describe social work throughout the world? Does this definition apply to social work where I live? And the like. At the beginning of the 21st century, the European countries have faced many problems of a different nature. In order to understand the nature of these problems an attempt is made to categorize them. Much is asked of social workers, and they are ones that are expected to make a difference by empowering human beings to change self and society. The conclusion is that it is worthwhile to explore, review social work as a profession because, according to Midgley, there is a "need to develop a broad international approach to the study of social work to generate a global awareness that enhances the ability of social workers to transcend their preocupation with the local and contextualize their role within a global setting"
In different countries the profession of social work has "done its work" for more or less than a century. In Lithuania its history is revived and closely related to social transformation that has taken place after the restoration of Independence in 1990. The question of how fully, if at all, social work has achieved professional status has been debated throughout the last century. It is known that efforts to evaluate whether social work is a "semi-profession" or a "fullydeveloped" profession have been made by J. Baird. Already in 1972 social work was considered as a profession. In the opinion of J. Baird to evaluate the status of the profession depends on whether social work is being measured by classical criteria of once "free" professions, or by contemporary criteria that are relevant to helping professions which are substiantially committed to public and governmental service enterprise. The present picture of the professionalization of social work has changed. American social work's aspirations to professionalization is a natural process in a liberal market economy, because the profession is created and strengthened as a result of the personal interests of those earning a living by it. The status of social work as a profession is not unequivocally fixed. There are some aspects that are considered as negative to the professionalization of social work. Namely, the private practice of social work which is said has been growing dynamically since the middle of the 20th century. But with the dramatic rise of medical care, social workers are said to return to their original mission. The nature of professional practice in any particular state is grounded in the historical and cultural context as mediated through political, economical and social systems. This makes social work difficult to define at the global level, and attempts to identify a universal essence of social work are problematic. Despite this apparent difficulty, there are some general definitions of social work. Definitions provoke many questions. Is it possible to develop a universal definition of social work? If so, how well does this definition describe social work throughout the world? Does this definition apply to social work where I live? And the like. At the beginning of the 21st century, the European countries have faced many problems of a different nature. In order to understand the nature of these problems an attempt is made to categorize them. Much is asked of social workers, and they are ones that are expected to make a difference by empowering human beings to change self and society. The conclusion is that it is worthwhile to explore, review social work as a profession because, according to Midgley, there is a "need to develop a broad international approach to the study of social work to generate a global awareness that enhances the ability of social workers to transcend their preocupation with the local and contextualize their role within a global setting"
The idea of harmonizing economic growth with the laws of development of society and the environment is expressed in the concept of sustainable development. In the frame of sustainable development an exceptional importance is attached to studying material flows, therefore management of waste flows must not contradict the principles of sustainable development. In agreement with M. Jacobs, it is possible to affirm that waste management in the context of sustainable development means using materials in closed cycles. Investigating socio-economic efficiency of municipal waste management means studying the organizational waste management process and factors disclosing characteristic features of this process, making deep comparative socio-economic analysis of waste management options and studying waste managements acts both on national and local level in order to reveal the ways of increasing socio-economic efficiency in municipal waste management. This study is induced by the necessity of changing the traditional waste management of depositing it in landfills, by recycling using not only national and international funds, but by mobilizing resources of local waste management systems as well. It is natural, that the policy of waste management, in which neither the scale of economic damage nor future waste management expenditure were evaluated, was orientated towards disposal of waste in refuse dumps. This means transferring problems to future generations, and this cardinally contradicts the concept of sustainable development. Therefore the question arises, what waste management systems should be considered to be efficient from the socio-economic viewpoint. Researches made in EU countries show that these are systems resources of which are directed to waste recycling and continuous its development. In Lithuania, the importance of waste management is emphasized in national strategy of environmental protection and waste recycling promotion has become the most significant waste management task in recent years, therefore attention is given to socio-economic waste management results. For establishing regional waste management systems, to cover the expenses of collecting, sorting out and transporting secondary materials, two main sources of funds are foreseen, that is, general tariff (or local levy) and funds from "Program of product and packaging waste management". Fixing general tariff depending on treatment expenses for separate waste flows or setting two-tariff charge on sorted and mixed waste is assigned to most urgent means, not only stimulating collection of secondary material but supporting financially the development of this process as well. However, when increasing general tariff all variables should be evaluated, i. e., tendencies in changes of amount and composition of the waste, distribution of wasteholders, number of waste operators on the market, their internal resources available and efficiency of their usage, etc. Otherwise, increase of tariff may be based neither in a social nor in an economic aspect. In the research, waste management priorities in the context of a sustainable development are revealed (based on socio-economic aspects) and internal reserves of municipal waste management systems due to which socio-economical waste management efficiency can be increased are identified. Research problem. Socio-economic and environmental aspects of waste management as well as the role of waste materials in the system of sustainable development have been more or less investigated in works of foreign scientists, the problems of municipal waste management have been analyzed in publications of international organizations as well as in works by foreign authors. In these studies, most attention is concentrated on the process "exploitation of natural resources – economic growth – waste formation" analysis and feasibility studies for modifying it in order to achieve sustainable development aims. Publications of international organizations contain abundant technical and statistical information on waste formation and management, nevertheless, economic studies are scarce, superficial and usually based on the experience of a separate country. They are important from a practical point of view and are of rather educational than scientific character. Among Lithuanian scientists theoretical aspects of sustainable development most widely have been investigated by R. Čiegis, feasibility researches of sustainable development are being carried out in separate sectors of economy – issues of sustainable transport development are being investigated by G. Paliulis, G. Ignatavičius, V. Oškinis, issues of sustainable development in energetics are studies by V. Jankauskas, D. Štreimikienė, I. Konstantavičiūtė, feasibility studies in sustainable development of industry are researched by J. Staniškis, V. Arbačiauskas, V. Pivoras, sustainable development of tourism is investigated by A. Rondomanskaitė, R. Hopenienė, A. Kamičaitė. And other scientists. Scientists give more and more consideration to studies of relationship between sustainable development and public interests, issues of regional and local sustainability and problems of evaluating sustainable development. Scientific studies on socio-economical aspects of municipal waste management are scanty. Works by A. Spruogis and B. Jaskelevičius, J. Čepinskis, A. Jankauskas, M. Ubartas, A. Lebedis, J. Danys, B. Zigmontienė, S. Vasarevičius and sociological researches carried out by the scientists of Kaunas University and the author of this thesis in cooperation with the scientists of Šiauliai University should be mentioned. So far, little attention has been given to research in efficiency of municipal waste management systems and analysis of the problems of managing and financing these systems. Scientific works on assessment of government policy in the field of waste management are scarce and there are few expert analysis about the effectiveness of regulations and economic instruments applied and their influence on the development of waste treatment methods. Not much research has been carried out in the works by Lithuanian authors on the issue of municipal waste management in the context of sustainable development. The review of research and studies in socio-economic problems of municipal waste management in the context of a sustainable development shows their fragmentariness. Modeling an efficient in socio-economic aspect municipal waste management system in the context of sustainable development requires purposeful theoretical studies and empiric research. The subject of the scientific research is socio-economic aspects of municipal waste management system.
The idea of harmonizing economic growth with the laws of development of society and the environment is expressed in the concept of sustainable development. In the frame of sustainable development an exceptional importance is attached to studying material flows, therefore management of waste flows must not contradict the principles of sustainable development. In agreement with M. Jacobs, it is possible to affirm that waste management in the context of sustainable development means using materials in closed cycles. Investigating socio-economic efficiency of municipal waste management means studying the organizational waste management process and factors disclosing characteristic features of this process, making deep comparative socio-economic analysis of waste management options and studying waste managements acts both on national and local level in order to reveal the ways of increasing socio-economic efficiency in municipal waste management. This study is induced by the necessity of changing the traditional waste management of depositing it in landfills, by recycling using not only national and international funds, but by mobilizing resources of local waste management systems as well. It is natural, that the policy of waste management, in which neither the scale of economic damage nor future waste management expenditure were evaluated, was orientated towards disposal of waste in refuse dumps. This means transferring problems to future generations, and this cardinally contradicts the concept of sustainable development. Therefore the question arises, what waste management systems should be considered to be efficient from the socio-economic viewpoint. Researches made in EU countries show that these are systems resources of which are directed to waste recycling and continuous its development. In Lithuania, the importance of waste management is emphasized in national strategy of environmental protection and waste recycling promotion has become the most significant waste management task in recent years, therefore attention is given to socio-economic waste management results. For establishing regional waste management systems, to cover the expenses of collecting, sorting out and transporting secondary materials, two main sources of funds are foreseen, that is, general tariff (or local levy) and funds from "Program of product and packaging waste management". Fixing general tariff depending on treatment expenses for separate waste flows or setting two-tariff charge on sorted and mixed waste is assigned to most urgent means, not only stimulating collection of secondary material but supporting financially the development of this process as well. However, when increasing general tariff all variables should be evaluated, i. e., tendencies in changes of amount and composition of the waste, distribution of wasteholders, number of waste operators on the market, their internal resources available and efficiency of their usage, etc. Otherwise, increase of tariff may be based neither in a social nor in an economic aspect. In the research, waste management priorities in the context of a sustainable development are revealed (based on socio-economic aspects) and internal reserves of municipal waste management systems due to which socio-economical waste management efficiency can be increased are identified. Research problem. Socio-economic and environmental aspects of waste management as well as the role of waste materials in the system of sustainable development have been more or less investigated in works of foreign scientists, the problems of municipal waste management have been analyzed in publications of international organizations as well as in works by foreign authors. In these studies, most attention is concentrated on the process "exploitation of natural resources – economic growth – waste formation" analysis and feasibility studies for modifying it in order to achieve sustainable development aims. Publications of international organizations contain abundant technical and statistical information on waste formation and management, nevertheless, economic studies are scarce, superficial and usually based on the experience of a separate country. They are important from a practical point of view and are of rather educational than scientific character. Among Lithuanian scientists theoretical aspects of sustainable development most widely have been investigated by R. Čiegis, feasibility researches of sustainable development are being carried out in separate sectors of economy – issues of sustainable transport development are being investigated by G. Paliulis, G. Ignatavičius, V. Oškinis, issues of sustainable development in energetics are studies by V. Jankauskas, D. Štreimikienė, I. Konstantavičiūtė, feasibility studies in sustainable development of industry are researched by J. Staniškis, V. Arbačiauskas, V. Pivoras, sustainable development of tourism is investigated by A. Rondomanskaitė, R. Hopenienė, A. Kamičaitė. And other scientists. Scientists give more and more consideration to studies of relationship between sustainable development and public interests, issues of regional and local sustainability and problems of evaluating sustainable development. Scientific studies on socio-economical aspects of municipal waste management are scanty. Works by A. Spruogis and B. Jaskelevičius, J. Čepinskis, A. Jankauskas, M. Ubartas, A. Lebedis, J. Danys, B. Zigmontienė, S. Vasarevičius and sociological researches carried out by the scientists of Kaunas University and the author of this thesis in cooperation with the scientists of Šiauliai University should be mentioned. So far, little attention has been given to research in efficiency of municipal waste management systems and analysis of the problems of managing and financing these systems. Scientific works on assessment of government policy in the field of waste management are scarce and there are few expert analysis about the effectiveness of regulations and economic instruments applied and their influence on the development of waste treatment methods. Not much research has been carried out in the works by Lithuanian authors on the issue of municipal waste management in the context of sustainable development. The review of research and studies in socio-economic problems of municipal waste management in the context of a sustainable development shows their fragmentariness. Modeling an efficient in socio-economic aspect municipal waste management system in the context of sustainable development requires purposeful theoretical studies and empiric research. The subject of the scientific research is socio-economic aspects of municipal waste management system.
The article provides a system of scientific proposals which could be prospective in forming and implementing the effective state policy in the sphere of crime control. The strategic trend of that policy instead of making the laws and punishment stricter, should eliminate in complex way social causes and conditions of criminality, i.e., crime prevention, oriented first of all to social groups of people mostly not adapted to new conditions of market society and people, living under the poverty line, young people who do not study and do not work, dysfunctional families and children who are being raised in them, young people who do not study and do not work, solution of inhabitants employment problems as well as problems of mode of life and morals. Crime prevention should become an integral part of social, economical, legal and cultural policy of the state and local governments institutions. It is proposed to reform in essence also the system of special crime prevention measures and institutions, decreasing their repressive and increasing positive influence by humanising and socialising of this system. Also other scientific (criminological) preconditions and practical possibilities of crime prevention in Lithuania and increase of its effectiveness are discussed paying attention not only to present but also prospective purposes and goals of this problem's solution.
The article provides a system of scientific proposals which could be prospective in forming and implementing the effective state policy in the sphere of crime control. The strategic trend of that policy instead of making the laws and punishment stricter, should eliminate in complex way social causes and conditions of criminality, i.e., crime prevention, oriented first of all to social groups of people mostly not adapted to new conditions of market society and people, living under the poverty line, young people who do not study and do not work, dysfunctional families and children who are being raised in them, young people who do not study and do not work, solution of inhabitants employment problems as well as problems of mode of life and morals. Crime prevention should become an integral part of social, economical, legal and cultural policy of the state and local governments institutions. It is proposed to reform in essence also the system of special crime prevention measures and institutions, decreasing their repressive and increasing positive influence by humanising and socialising of this system. Also other scientific (criminological) preconditions and practical possibilities of crime prevention in Lithuania and increase of its effectiveness are discussed paying attention not only to present but also prospective purposes and goals of this problem's solution.
All the sciences and even philosophical, ethic thinking and also practice are grounded by so called "line - thinking", which is efective in only limited sphere and time as synergetic paradigmus born in the 20 century. Unfortunately propositions under "line thinking" influence gave miserable results as much in politics as in government. The article shortly deals with some paradoxical synergetic confirmities (regularities) and the first observed results and chances of their using in the prevention of crimes, goverment in connection with the problem of theory and practice. It is suggested to change "strategic planing" conception into "strategic thinking" concept which joins theory and practice most effectively. In conclusion, connect of theory and practice are visible in teleonomy of emergetic evolution of social processes which are expressed namely by "strategic thinking" as intentionality obeyed to the same synergetic laws.
All the sciences and even philosophical, ethic thinking and also practice are grounded by so called "line - thinking", which is efective in only limited sphere and time as synergetic paradigmus born in the 20 century. Unfortunately propositions under "line thinking" influence gave miserable results as much in politics as in government. The article shortly deals with some paradoxical synergetic confirmities (regularities) and the first observed results and chances of their using in the prevention of crimes, goverment in connection with the problem of theory and practice. It is suggested to change "strategic planing" conception into "strategic thinking" concept which joins theory and practice most effectively. In conclusion, connect of theory and practice are visible in teleonomy of emergetic evolution of social processes which are expressed namely by "strategic thinking" as intentionality obeyed to the same synergetic laws.
The paper presents an overview of M. Weber's modelling paradigm assessing it against the opportunities of using the models in modern science of public policy and administration. Two types of research problems requiring modelling of different levels are identified. The paper defines the static and the dialectic methods of modelling, the limits and possibilities of their application are defined. The novelty and relevance of the paper lies in the substantiation of advantages and drawbacks of static modelling and in the proving of the importance of normative character of science, which contradicts the traditional Weber's methodology. In public administration one may not rely only upon formal procedures, forms and rules, because this will not reveal the functions of the State and the interests underlying them. A public administration model must be characterised by normative content. Models of social processes must not necessarily reflect the reality exactly, however, they may serve as a tool for simplifying the mechanisms of social reality and for attempting to understand its mechanisms. Modelling may be static or dialectic. Static modelling is simpler since the number of variables it takes account of is smaller. In certain cases static modelling may be presented or desirable due to value considerations raised by the idealistic world. Idealistic philosophy gives rise to relevant phenomena, which can be neither confirmed nor rejected. Such models may be desirable as the given required by a peculiar belief and as components of the given. As far as social science is a value and "humanitarian" science, to such extent metaphysics, the static given and static modelling may yield results. Philosophical idealism is often presented as a source of political and economic liberalism, or a sign of equality Is placed between them. This is not entirely correct since state and social policy studies in the liberal social sciences are based on formal concepts without any normative content. Liberal sociological definitions designed for a parliamentary-democratic constitutional state usually cover only procedures, forms, rules and state activity instruments, avoiding a definition of the State's functions completely or partially. Not only the functions of the State remain unsubstantiated; possible consequences of manifestation of these functions or the interests of those who defend them or any backstairs interests behind the declared interests arc not explained. The Weberian methodological concept of democracy turns liberal democracy and pluralist theory into a sheer arsenal of technical means, which is unpredictable and incapable of explaining the deep phenomena of public administration and the more so - of social policy. It is not only in the West, but also in Eastern Europe including Lithuania, individual politicians and public administration experts wish to reduce the principle of social welfare to the constitutional and legal level, absolutising the legal aspect. Dialectic modelling is a kind of opposite to static modelling, or modelling that may supplement the latter substantially. And this is not just because it is able to "see the context". Using the dialectic relationship one may examine such historical dichotomies as belief and science, nationality and globalism, central and local government, private and public interest etc. In the most general sense, dialectic modelling is focussed on the determination of the content, form, contradiction between content and form, and finding of the place of this relationship in the world's development process. The methodology of dialectic modelling asserts that the dialectic relationship is a universal means of modelling of qualitative processes and may be used for the modelling of the processes for which sufficient qualitative exceptionality may be determined as compared with the previous qualitative stage. Eastern Europe encounters difficulties in social modelling due to a distinct transformational nature of social systems of these countries as well as due to frequent changes in the laws governing social security and tax policy. The latter factor also poses problems for Eastern European social scientists in processing the material and in modelling socio-economic development on its basis.
The paper presents an overview of M. Weber's modelling paradigm assessing it against the opportunities of using the models in modern science of public policy and administration. Two types of research problems requiring modelling of different levels are identified. The paper defines the static and the dialectic methods of modelling, the limits and possibilities of their application are defined. The novelty and relevance of the paper lies in the substantiation of advantages and drawbacks of static modelling and in the proving of the importance of normative character of science, which contradicts the traditional Weber's methodology. In public administration one may not rely only upon formal procedures, forms and rules, because this will not reveal the functions of the State and the interests underlying them. A public administration model must be characterised by normative content. Models of social processes must not necessarily reflect the reality exactly, however, they may serve as a tool for simplifying the mechanisms of social reality and for attempting to understand its mechanisms. Modelling may be static or dialectic. Static modelling is simpler since the number of variables it takes account of is smaller. In certain cases static modelling may be presented or desirable due to value considerations raised by the idealistic world. Idealistic philosophy gives rise to relevant phenomena, which can be neither confirmed nor rejected. Such models may be desirable as the given required by a peculiar belief and as components of the given. As far as social science is a value and "humanitarian" science, to such extent metaphysics, the static given and static modelling may yield results. Philosophical idealism is often presented as a source of political and economic liberalism, or a sign of equality Is placed between them. This is not entirely correct since state and social policy studies in the liberal social sciences are based on formal concepts without any normative content. Liberal sociological definitions designed for a parliamentary-democratic constitutional state usually cover only procedures, forms, rules and state activity instruments, avoiding a definition of the State's functions completely or partially. Not only the functions of the State remain unsubstantiated; possible consequences of manifestation of these functions or the interests of those who defend them or any backstairs interests behind the declared interests arc not explained. The Weberian methodological concept of democracy turns liberal democracy and pluralist theory into a sheer arsenal of technical means, which is unpredictable and incapable of explaining the deep phenomena of public administration and the more so - of social policy. It is not only in the West, but also in Eastern Europe including Lithuania, individual politicians and public administration experts wish to reduce the principle of social welfare to the constitutional and legal level, absolutising the legal aspect. Dialectic modelling is a kind of opposite to static modelling, or modelling that may supplement the latter substantially. And this is not just because it is able to "see the context". Using the dialectic relationship one may examine such historical dichotomies as belief and science, nationality and globalism, central and local government, private and public interest etc. In the most general sense, dialectic modelling is focussed on the determination of the content, form, contradiction between content and form, and finding of the place of this relationship in the world's development process. The methodology of dialectic modelling asserts that the dialectic relationship is a universal means of modelling of qualitative processes and may be used for the modelling of the processes for which sufficient qualitative exceptionality may be determined as compared with the previous qualitative stage. Eastern Europe encounters difficulties in social modelling due to a distinct transformational nature of social systems of these countries as well as due to frequent changes in the laws governing social security and tax policy. The latter factor also poses problems for Eastern European social scientists in processing the material and in modelling socio-economic development on its basis.
