The Holistic Focus of Social Work. The Interdependence of Global, National, and Local Perspectives in the Global Definition of Social Work

Abstract

The question raised in this article is whether or not there is a global holistic focus on social work, even though social work is practiced mostly in a localized context and therefore in very different national, regional, and local cultural settings. The global definition of social work is a key document in this discussion regarding the connection between global and local interdependency because it claims to define global social work by definition on the one hand but on the other hand must find ways to integrate local social work practices. Interestingly, this connection can only be found implicitly in the definition. The article will focus on the underlying debate of cultural relativism and universalism and how a biopsychosocial theory of human needs can be one possible basis for the holistic focus of social work proposed in the definition itself.