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Over the last three to four decades, the question of the relevance and appropriatenessnof Western theories and methods of social work practice in non-Western countries hasnbecome a matter of increasing debate. A parallel concern as to whether existing social work approaches are applicable to people of non-Anglo-Saxon backgrounds in Western countriesnhas also been raised.nn This thesis seeks to explore issues and illuminate complexities in developingnculturally appropriate social work practice in the context of Sarawak, Malaysia. Beginningnwith an examination of three major theoretical positions in relation to developing culturally appropriate social work practice in non-Western contexts, the thesis arrives at the followingnobservation. Firstly, the indigenisation/culturally sensitive position remains encapsulated innthe cultural assumptions and world views of Western social work practice framework.nSecondly, the authentisation/culturally appropriate position does not adequatelynacknowledge the heterogeneity and diversity within a country or an ethnic group. Thirdly,nthe multicultural/international position, while promoting a view of social work practicenbeing able to transcend cultural and national boundaries, does not offer clear suggestions asnto how culturally appropriate social work practice could be developed in a non-Westernncontext. In addition, the thesis argues that the conceptualisation of culture in much of thenexisting literature is narrowly focused and in danger of being perceived as a fixed,nimmutable entity, overlooking the interconnection between culture and research.nnnnnnnnnnnnn Working from a conceptual framework of culture-in-transaction, and defining culturenas knowledge we used to guide behaviour and interpret experience, the study aims to movenbeyond the descriptive propositions of much of the literature to an empirical exploration ofnissues pertinent to the development of culturally appropriate practice. The research questions are formulated with the aims of gaining insights into the help-seeking and help givingnexperiences of different groups of people.nnnnnnnnnn Field work was conducted in two selected regions in Sarawak, one in an urban, citynarea and the other in a semi-rural region. Purposeful sampling method was used to selectnpeople of different social cultural backgrounds, age groups and genders within differentngroups of informants. 1 3 designated helpers, 1 5 social workers and 4 client-groups wereninterviewed. The interviewing method, primarily in-depth, unstructured interview, soughtnto open up opportunities for the research partnparticipants to shape the research processes and methods, such that issues of cultural appropriateness may unfold.nnnnnnnnnnnnnn The analysis of the findings highlights the key areas of divergence between the worldnviews of the people in this study and the world views embodied in Western social worknpractice theory on the one hand; and on the other hand, the diversities and the dynamism ofnchange and continuity within the local cultures. The thesis discusses the implications of thenfindings and argues that the development of culturally appropriate social work practice liesnin a dynamic balancing between opposing needs. It proposes a way to developing cultural appropriate practice, as well as its related research and knowledge development, throughnthe creation of the borderland of a third culture that emerges out of this dynamic balance.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn The thesis concludes with a consideration of its implications for future research,ntheoretical and educational development of social work practice, within and beyond thenpresent context of study.n n
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