Chapter 13 Chapter Overview & Learning Objectives

Chapter Summary

This chapter provides an introductory exploration of what constitutes international social work. The chapter begins by addressing the importance of international social work and analyzing its historical patterns, including how the phenomenon has both evolved and expanded over time. There are a number of opportunities and challenges that encompass international social work. A particular challenge includes identifying an adequate definition of the term; a variety of definitions have been proposed over time. 

There are a number of different organizations that work in the realm of international social work. These include the United Nations (UN), government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs). There are both similarities and differences that exist between each type of social welfare organization, including in the delivery of services, policy making, and advocacy.

Values, ideology, and ethics are a complicated yet pertinent component of international social work. Some ethical challenges are specific to particular countries, contexts, or cultures, while others are more common. It is important for social workers across the world to reflect on the dilemmas with which they are confronted, and to make ethically informed decisions about how to act in each particular case. However, debates continue over the role of universalism versus cultural relativism in ethical international practice. Social workers from dominant cultures need to be cognizant of the potential to perpetuate or reduce oppressive and imperialistic relationships when working with marginalized populations. They must consider how issues of domination and power have created significant dominant paradigms or “ways of knowing” that may marginalize or silence indigenous, subjugated populations.

In addition, the chapter explores the harsh realities of child soldiers and the ways in which social workers at local, national, international, and other levels have responded to this pertinent international issue. Both the Canadian government and NGOs have been involved with the social welfare of child soldiers. The chapter concludes by asserting that international social work practice must demand equality and a true exchange of ideas between cultures. In this way, the social work profession has the capacity to create a new and rich history of active engagement with the critical issues of our time.

Learning Objectives

The goal of this chapter is to do the following:

1. Highlight the role and importance of international social work practice in our diverse and rapidly evolving global context.
2. Trace the “internationalization” of the social work profession and historical patterns of expansion.
3. Address the multiple meanings and definition(s) of international social work.
4. Identify the roles and functions of international welfare organizations.
5. Examine the values and ethics inherent to international social work practice.
6. Demonstrate the link between social work practice and issues of global importance.