Chapter 13: International Social Work

Question 1

What is globalization?

Answer 1

A mainly economic process including the breaking down of borders and barriers to international trade but can also describe economic, political, social, technological, and cultural transformations that lead to greater interconnectedness of people and systems around the world.

Question 2

What are the five key reasons why international social work practice and a broader global knowledge base are becoming increasingly vital for both emerging and highly experienced social workers?

Answer 2

• First, international social forces and events, especially the movement of populations
• Second, more than ever, social problems and issues are shared by both more and less economically developed countries, making mutual work and exchange increasingly important and desirable.
• Third, one country’s actions, whether political, cultural, economic, or social, directly and indirectly have an impact on the social and economic well-being of others
• Fourth, advances in technology and communications have created enhanced opportunities for international and community sharing, exchange, and collaboration.
• Fifth, social justice and human rights are a global necessity and concern.

Question 3

What are human rights?

Answer 3

Basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, language, or other status.

Question 4

What are the three international social work bodies?

Answer 4

• The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
• The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)
• The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)

Question 5

What is the The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)?

Answer 5

is an international community of schools and educators in social work, promoting quality education, training, and research for the theory and practice of social work, administration of social services, and formulation of social policies

Question 6

What is the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW)?

Answer 6

is an international non-governmental organization operating throughout the world for the cause of social welfare, social justice, and social development, working actively with the United Nations.

Question 7

What is the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)?

Answer 7

is a global organization striving for social justice, human rights, and social development through the promotion of social work, best practice models, and the facilitation of international cooperation.

Question 8

What is social development?

Answer 8

Concerned with processes of change that lead to improvements in human well-being, social relations, and social institutions that are equitable, sustainable, and compatible with principles of democratic governance and social justice.

Question 9

What was the first pattern of social work?

Answer 9

Around 1900, a number of social work schools emerged almost concurrently in London, Amsterdam, New York, and Berlin. Much of the social services at that time were being developed to address the emerging needs arising from the Industrial Revolution in Northern Europe and the United States

Question 10

What was the second pattern of social work?

Answer 10

social work was largely introduced into Asian, African, and Caribbean countries by American and European “experts” (often in the form of missionaries and by officials of colonial governments) to address issues related to underdevelopment

Question 11

Wha was the third pattern of social work?

Answer 11

social work in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc, including Russia, Eastern European nations, China and Viet Nam—a process that has also involved substantial foreign influence.

Question 12

What are the four dimensions of international social work according to Henly?

Answer 12

(1) internationally informed domestic practice;
(2) participation in international exchange;
(3) international practice; and
(4) international policy formulation and advocacy.

Question 13

What is internationally informed domestic practice?

Answer 13

Social workers are increasingly being called on to deal with problems that have an international dimension—meaning that two or more countries are involved in some way in a particular case or policy issue. Areas of practice and policy that have an international dimension include refugee resettlement, international adoption work, and social work in border areas. Such contexts require that social workers have in-depth knowledge of all the countries and contexts at play. Healy also suggests that as part of international advocacy, social workers take stances and act as advocates on aspects of their own country’s foreign and national policy that affect peoples in other countries, such as legislation on immigration

Question 14

What is participation in international exchange?

Answer 14

This refers to the capacity to exchange social work information and experiences internationally and to use this knowledge and experience to improve social work practice at home. This can include reading periodicals from other countries and regions and participating in professional interchange at international meetings to enrich one’s own practice.

Question 15

What is International practice?

Answer 15

This refers to the preparation of professional social workers to contribute directly to international development work through employment or volunteer work in international development agencies.

Question 16

What is international policy formulation and advocacy.

Answer 16

This refers to the capacity of the social work profession to act as a global movement to formulate and promulgate positions on important social issues and contribute to the resolution of global problems related to its sphere of expertise.

Question 17

Drawing upon this notion of “crossing borders,” Hugman, Moosa-Mitha, & Moyo (2010, pp. 632–633) identified five key dimensions of international social work:

Answer 17

1. International social work can be seen as the practice of social work in a country other than the home country of the social worker.
2. In the second part of the twentieth century, international social work also came to mean working with individuals, families, or communities whose origins are in a country other than that where the social worker is practising (for example, social work with refugees or other migrants).
3. Working with international organizations, such as international non-governmentalorganizations (e.g., International Committee of the Red Cross) or quasi-governmental organizations (e.g. the United Nations).
4. Exchanges or collaborations between countries in which social workers share ideas or work together on projects that cross national borders.
5. International social work has begun to incorporate the notion of glocalization. This idea refers to an understanding of the local context in terms of the impact of economic and cultural globalization at local socio-cultural levels and the impact of the local on the global.

Question 18

What its glocalization?

Answer 18

A term popularized by Bauman (1998) who argued that globalization should be understood as linking global and local processes.

Question 19

Perhaps in an attempt to merge the practical with the conceptual and theoretical, Healy and Link (2012) provide a definition of international social work that is both practice oriented and value based. They provide seven points to encapsulate the breadth of their definition:

Answer 19

• a way of looking at and appreciating the world (worldview) and acknowledging the impact of globalization on human well-being
• practice, including locally based practice, informed by international knowledge
• practice, concern, and action on globally experienced social issues
• participation in international professional organizations and dialogue
• understanding of the global profession
• promotion of development and human rights
• a future- and action-oriented movement for global change

Question 20

What is civil society?

Answer 20

Refers to the wide array of non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that have a presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their members.

Question 21

What are NGO’s?

Answer 21

Private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of people living in poverty, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development

Question 22

What are INGO’s?

Answer 22

Normally have a similar mission to an NGO, but are international in scope and may have offices around the world to deal with specific issues in many countries.

Question 23

When was the first time an Indigenous person spoke at a UN debate?

Answer 23

1923

Question 24

What are multilateral organizations?

Answer 24

Organizations formed between three or more nations to work on issues that relate to all of the countries in the organization. Examples of multilateral organizations include UNICEF and the World Bank.

Question 25

Whats canadas organization to care for others globally?

Answer 25

Global Affairs Canada

Question 26

How are fair based organizations different from secular?

Answer 26

• First, faith-based organizations act in the world motivated by their faith; their constituents’ responses to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized communities are an active expression of their faith.
• Second, they have a constituency that can be can activated at local levels for community engagement and a broader reach based on “their affiliation with a religious structure, doctrine or community”

Question 27

What is universalism?

Answer 27

The position that states that core values apply to all human beings, irrespective of their identity (including cultural background or personal preferences).

Question 28

What is cultural relativism?

Answer 28

Advocates that “culture is the sole source for the validity of a moral right or rule” (Donnelly, 1984, p. 400) and that “members of one society may not legitimately condemn the practices of societies with different traditions,” especially practices considered culturally based

Question 29

What is indigenization?

Answer 29

Refers to the adoption and adaptation of theories and practices in social work in ways that are relevant to the local (indigenous) context.

Question 30

What is authentization?

Answer 30

Refers to a process of developing theories and practices for social work that are derived out of the realities of the local context.

Question 31

What is a child soldier defined as?

Answer 31

any person below 18 years of age who is or who has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies or for sexual purposes. It does not only refer to a child who is taking or has taken a direct part in hostilities.

Question 32

What is demobilization?

Answer 32

Refers to the formal and controlled discharge of active combatants from armed forces or other armed groups.

Question 33

What is reintegration?

Answer 33

The process by which ex-combatants acquire civilian status and gain sustainable employment and income.