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ABSTRACT
This article presents material from literature and responses from national experts about social work developments in the 15 Former Soviet Union (FSU) states, since independence in 1991. Taking professionalization as a theoretical framework and considering the role of the state and other actors, the authors use a thematic approach to analyse the factors relevant to the professional project. Throughout the region, the state is identified as still the major actor in driving welfare changes and creating the organizational and legislative bases for the development of social work. A chronology of legislation relevant to the establishment of social work is included which highlights the variations in the pace of developments, as do the establishment of professional education (throughout the region) and professional associations (in most countries). The authors conclude that the professional project faces many challenges across the FSU region and the progress made – or lack of it in some countries – can be related to the politics and economics of particular states. However, the evidence suggests that, less than a quarter of a century after the demise of communism, this project has been initiated in all but one FSU countries and there are indications of positive developments.
АННОТАЦИЯ
В статье представлены результаты анализа литературы и интервью с национальными экспертами по проблемам развития социальной работы в пятнадцати бывших республиках Советского Союза, начиная с получения ими независимости в 1991. Принимая в качестве теоретической рамки концепцию профессионализации и рассматривая роль государства и других акторов, авторы анализируют факторы, релевантные профессиональному проекту. Повсеместно в регионе государство по-прежнему является главным актором, который проводит изменения в социальной политике и закладывает организационные и правовые основания развития социальной работы. В статье рассматривается сравнительная хронология социального законодательства, создания профессионального образования и профессиональных ассоциаций в странах региона. Авторы приходят к выводу, что реализация профессионального проекта сопряжена с рядом проблем во всех странах бывшего Советского Союза. Достижения и трудности на пути профессионализации могут объясняться условиями, свойственными политике и экономике отдельных государств. Проведенный анализ позволяет авторам говорить о том, что спустя лишь четверть века после падения коммунизма профессиональный проект социальной работы стартовал во всех (кроме одной) странах бывшего Советского Союза, и налицо признаки позитивных сдвигов.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr Karen Lyons is an Emeritus Professor (International Social Work) at London Metropolitan University. As a part of her academic career, she has been involved in international networks and activities since the 1980s. These included contributing to the (re)establishment of social work in three FSU countries in the 1990s and subsequent contacts. She is currently also involved in various editing and writing projects as well as supervising and examining doctoral candidates.
Dr Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova is Professor (Sociology) at the Department of Sociology, researcher at the Institute of Social Policy and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Social Policy Studies, National Research University ‘Higher School of Economics’ (Moscow, Russia). Previously she has been working as a head of the Department of Social Work at the Saratov State Technical University and Research Director of an independent research organization Center for Social Policy Studies (Saratov, Russia). She was involved in the development of social work education in Russia since its start in 1991. Currently she is teaching sociology and conducting research in various areas of social policy and social work as well as supervising master and doctoral students at NRU HSE.
Notes
1 The first author sent letters by e-mail (in 2012 and 2014) to a range of national experts informing them of the wish to publish material about the development of social work in the FSU countries and asking them if they would be willing to contribute to this exercise. If agreed the experts were sent a list of 12 questions aimed at eliciting both factual and qualitative data. Many thanks are due to the following respondents who agreed to be named: Manane Petrosyan (Armenia), Dalija Snieškienė (Lithuania), Valentina Abergan (Belarus), Tamerlan Rajabov (Azerbajan), Rahat Orozova (Kyrgyz Republic), Irina Evdokimova & Elena Plakhova (Ukraine), Zarina Kurbanbekova (Tajikistan), Zita Batori-Tartsi (Ukraine), Shakira Mukhtarova, Lyasat Kozhamkulova & Galina Sudakova (Kazakhstan) and Lyudmila Kim & Dina Isaeva (Uzbekistan). Specific contributions are cited as PECs.