The problem with ‘social problems’ as domain of social work: a critical approach to the Melbourne ‘global definition of social work’ of 2014 and constructivist theories of social problems

Abstract

After 14 years of debate, a new ‘Global Definition of Social Work’ has been ratified at the World Conference by the International Organisations IASSW/IFSW in Melbourne in 2004. Looking at it, it shows different problems: (1) the ‘domain’ of social work is very vaguely defined as ‘life challenges’; (2) there is a ‘moral-overload’ of partially contradictory values underlying a profession as an example of ‘moral-entrepreneurship’, which is always on the ‘right’ and the ‘good’ side of history. (3) Human Rights and Social Justice are just value items on the same level as all other values and cannot offer anymore the possibility to articulate discrepancies between legality, indigenous knowledge and ethical legitimacy according to more general values and norms such as Human Dignity and Human Rights. The article offers explanations referring especially to a mainly Western/European tradition of epistemological constructivism and corresponding idealistic ontology, which dispossess the clients from their real distress and social workers from their disciplinary and professional domain and mandate.

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