How Does Globalization Affect Social Work Practice
Globalization is not the only factor that influenced social work practice and contributed to changes in social work education (it seems that the reader is expecting the “other factors” on your next sentence). In a general viewpoint, globalization is a process more related to information and economic exchanges between countries around the world. However, in a social work perspective it is much more than that. It concerns the social impact and transformation in a civilization. In Canadian society globalization is the cause for a transformation in social work practice, and also has a tremendous impact on social work education. This essay explores the connection between globalization and social work practice that led up to a transformation in
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social work education in the Canadian society. The paper establishes these linkages by first discussing how globalization influenced social work practice. This will be followed by an examination of other factors that may contribute for challenges in social work practice. Then I will conclude by exploring the changes that need to happen in social work education as a solution to minimize the problem in the Canadian society.
Globalization is the cause for a transformation in social work practice due to the fact that facilitated people to immigrate between countries. Owing to globalization there was an increase of immigration and refugees in Canadian society which led to demographic changes, particularly since the terrorist attack in September 2011 (Razack & Badwall, 2006). The reasons that encourage people to move out of their country of origin are vary but it is the war and poverty the top reasons that motivates people to look for better life conditions. Although people seek to start a new life in a different country, their traumas, stress, fears, and uncertainly about their future are a reality and increases concerns to them and to the society, which led to an increase of marginalization and racism acts (Razack & Badwall, 2006), (Yee, 2005).
The diversity and multiculturalism as a result of globalization turned into challenges for social work practitioners as they need more “culture information about ethno-racial minority groups in order to feel comfortable in working with difference” (Yee, J., 2005, p.98). Radzack and Badwall (2006) also stated that the pedagogy and practice for social workers were influenced by the demographics changes in Canadian society in order to embrace the new reality caused by globalization. The truth is, throughout the years social work practice did not followed the changes in Canadian society caused by globalization. According to Gray and Fook (2004), that fact started to raise questions about the efficiency of social work profession as it needs a reformulation in the first models of practice and theories, and focus on the different global reality.
Some professionals may argue that globalization is not the only cause for a transformation in social work practice.
The difficulty in defining and implementing anti-oppression methods in society has also, strongly contributed for social work practice transformation. According to Razack and Badwall (2006), there is a lack of anti-oppression methods to deal with diversity and complexity of Canadian society. Likewise, the gap between theory and practice in regards to social work anti-oppression methods is also pointed out by Gray and Fook (2004), as one of the causes for a social work transformation. Although I agree that the lack of anti-oppression methods and the gap between theory and practice in social work, it is important to highlight the fact that none of these conceptions were discussed if it wasn’t caused by the diversity and complexity associated with globalization. In “Ecologically-Oriented, Competence-Centered social work practice”, Malucio et.al. (1992), is emphasized the ecologically-oriented theory used on social work practice which is based on people’s surroundings and in their background, to underline the importance of a person environment on the acquired competences, as it affects humans functioning and development personal strategies to deal with several life challenges. These would never be debated if there were no diversity in Canadian society. The transformation caused by globalization urge the need to discuss about all the above concepts in order to improve the work of social
practitioners.
Globalization is a reality and if social work practice does not follow its developments and embraces the changes, the practice and their professionals would be mean less to address social justice. For that reason, globalization is the cause and also the solution for the transformation in social work practice. Razack and Badwall (2006) stated that, in order to improve the exercise on social work, it is crucial and indispensable, in their opinion, to incorporate that globalization in the social work training. For that purpose, a change must happen in social workers education. This change is, in the opinion of both authors, essentially the use of anti-oppression methods, as it will provide students to deal with different populations. In fact, some efforts are starting to be noticeable regarding to this matter. Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) incorporated in the Education policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), “international perspectives with language for implementation into the social work curriculum” (as cited in Razack and Badwall, 2006, p.663). Furthermore, The Katherine Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education was created in 2004 to generate chances for collaboration and to encourage international standards for social work education. (Razack and Badwall, 2006)
This essay explains globalization as the cause for a transformation in social work practice and also highlights the tremendous impact on social work education. Demographic changes caused by globalization and, consequently, the increased immigration, refugees, acts of racism, oppression and marginalization led to several challenges and new points of view in regards to social work practice, as the professionals are facing obstacles in how to deal with people with different cultures and values. In order to deal with the new reality and address the needs of Canadian society, a change must happen in social work education as it is the core to improve social work practice and thus, provide assistance to those in need and minimize social injustice
social work education in the Canadian society. The paper establishes these linkages by first discussing how globalization influenced social work practice. This will be followed by an examination of other factors that may contribute for challenges in social work practice. Then I will conclude by exploring the changes that need to happen in social work education as a solution to minimize the problem in the Canadian society.
Globalization is the cause for a transformation in social work practice due to the fact that facilitated people to immigrate between countries. Owing to globalization there was an increase of immigration and refugees in Canadian society which led to demographic changes, particularly since the terrorist attack in September 2011 (Razack & Badwall, 2006). The reasons that encourage people to move out of their country of origin are vary but it is the war and poverty the top reasons that motivates people to look for better life conditions. Although people seek to start a new life in a different country, their traumas, stress, fears, and uncertainly about their future are a reality and increases concerns to them and to the society, which led to an increase of marginalization and racism acts (Razack & Badwall, 2006), (Yee, 2005).
The diversity and multiculturalism as a result of globalization turned into challenges for social work practitioners as they need more “culture information about ethno-racial minority groups in order to feel comfortable in working with difference” (Yee, J., 2005, p.98). Radzack and Badwall (2006) also stated that the pedagogy and practice for social workers were influenced by the demographics changes in Canadian society in order to embrace the new reality caused by globalization. The truth is, throughout the years social work practice did not followed the changes in Canadian society caused by globalization. According to Gray and Fook (2004), that fact started to raise questions about the efficiency of social work profession as it needs a reformulation in the first models of practice and theories, and focus on the different global reality.
Some professionals may argue that globalization is not the only cause for a transformation in social work practice.
The difficulty in defining and implementing anti-oppression methods in society has also, strongly contributed for social work practice transformation. According to Razack and Badwall (2006), there is a lack of anti-oppression methods to deal with diversity and complexity of Canadian society. Likewise, the gap between theory and practice in regards to social work anti-oppression methods is also pointed out by Gray and Fook (2004), as one of the causes for a social work transformation. Although I agree that the lack of anti-oppression methods and the gap between theory and practice in social work, it is important to highlight the fact that none of these conceptions were discussed if it wasn’t caused by the diversity and complexity associated with globalization. In “Ecologically-Oriented, Competence-Centered social work practice”, Malucio et.al. (1992), is emphasized the ecologically-oriented theory used on social work practice which is based on people’s surroundings and in their background, to underline the importance of a person environment on the acquired competences, as it affects humans functioning and development personal strategies to deal with several life challenges. These would never be debated if there were no diversity in Canadian society. The transformation caused by globalization urge the need to discuss about all the above concepts in order to improve the work of social
practitioners.
Globalization is a reality and if social work practice does not follow its developments and embraces the changes, the practice and their professionals would be mean less to address social justice. For that reason, globalization is the cause and also the solution for the transformation in social work practice. Razack and Badwall (2006) stated that, in order to improve the exercise on social work, it is crucial and indispensable, in their opinion, to incorporate that globalization in the social work training. For that purpose, a change must happen in social workers education. This change is, in the opinion of both authors, essentially the use of anti-oppression methods, as it will provide students to deal with different populations. In fact, some efforts are starting to be noticeable regarding to this matter. Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) incorporated in the Education policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), “international perspectives with language for implementation into the social work curriculum” (as cited in Razack and Badwall, 2006, p.663). Furthermore, The Katherine Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education was created in 2004 to generate chances for collaboration and to encourage international standards for social work education. (Razack and Badwall, 2006)
This essay explains globalization as the cause for a transformation in social work practice and also highlights the tremendous impact on social work education. Demographic changes caused by globalization and, consequently, the increased immigration, refugees, acts of racism, oppression and marginalization led to several challenges and new points of view in regards to social work practice, as the professionals are facing obstacles in how to deal with people with different cultures and values. In order to deal with the new reality and address the needs of Canadian society, a change must happen in social work education as it is the core to improve social work practice and thus, provide assistance to those in need and minimize social injustice