Self-Determination in an Era of Cultural Pluralism

Abstract

The global village within which social workers find themselves is increasingly more culturally diverse. Social workers implementing the value of self-determination have difficulty understanding how to fit power and culture within the value of empowerment. This article develops a Trifurcated Model of self-determination which includes the client, worker, and social-cultural environment as diverse levels of self-determination along a continuum of power and authority. The authors further describe how this model can be used to promote client self-determination through respect of cultural diversity and acceptance of pluralism.