Globalisation and Indigenisation: Reconciling the Irreconcilable in Social Work?

Introduction

Social work enhances human and environmental well-being by delivering appropriate services and advocating for change in the interests of people and planet earth. Expressed locally, nationally and internationally, this remit links practitioners to humanity's highest ideals and is reshaped constantly under pressure from: professionalisation; public expectations; service users’ demands; political and socioeconomic forces; and interactions across local–global borders. Social workers utilise the theories and practice of a heterogeneous profession to provide services in specific geographic localities; advocate for the well-being of peoples excluded by social divisions, such as age, gender, class, ‘race’ or ethnicity; critique policies that limit access to social power and resources; and control deviant populations. These roles are contradictory and trap practitioners in ‘care-control’ dilemmas highlighted in the radical social work movement of the 1970s (Bailey and Brake, 1975) and currently resurfacing in the UK (Lavalette, 2011) and elsewhere. Opposing injustice configures social work as a politicised profession and creates tensions over reconciling the irreconcilable in both local and international practice. The latter occurs when social workers cross borders to assist, for example, in humanitarian disasters (Desai, 2007); support endeavours overseas (Humphreys, 1996); become migrant workers (Devo, 2006); or engage in transnational activities (Dominelli, 2012).

In this chapter, I explore the complex realities of practice and tensions faced by social workers upholding human rights and advocating for social justice as they negotiate local/national and international domains. I unpack the concepts of globalisation, internationalising practices and indigenisation to reveal social workers’ complicated positioning arising from: calls for liberation and self-definition; heterogeneous, interdependent relations; and global homogenisation. Globalisation and indigenisation present [Page 40]opportunities and challenges for practitioners attempting empowering, locality specific and culturally relevant approaches. These carry implications for international social work when exchanging practitioners, faculty, student and curricula.

Historical and Contextual Background

The social work profession had its origins in Europe in the late 19th century (Kendall, 2000) as a handmaiden of the state (Lorenz, 1994) and spread globally through colonising state agendas and altruistic impulses. Colonisation had taken root from the 17th century, altering local socioeconomic formations and Europeanising indigenous lifestyles, in every other continent. From the 19th century social workers became involved through institutions including nation-states and military, religious, voluntary and educational organisations, where controlling mechanisms replaced caring ones. Such oppressive practices ranged from turning indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and United States into white Europeans, including by removing children from families and denying their cultures, languages, and religions (Haig-Brown, 1988; Humphreys, 1996; Grande, 2004) to oppressing minorities in Nazi Germany (Lorenz, 1994). In addition, migration from Europe was fostered by war or persecution as well as directly, by charity organisations. For example, Barnardo's, created in Victorian times, sent poor children (allegedly orphans) to Commonwealth countries, where, in foster homes or orphanages, many were abused (Bagnell, 2001).

Colonists also imposed educational materials which were considered to be superior to any existing and suggesting that their contents were universally applicable, regardless of local contexts or cultures. This tradition that was later evident in the establishment of social work education outside Europe and North America and has persisted (Yip, 2005, see also Section 5). French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English were colonising languages in earlier exchanges and English has since become the dominant ‘global’ language, not least in social work. This reality excludes those not speaking it.

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