Social work in Serbia in the economic crisis and social transformation context

Abstract

The aim of this study was to show key influences (forces) on the social work in Serbia in the time of economic crisis and social transformation: its social context, theoretical trends, the relation between the profession and the state and characteristics of social work education. The paper shows the dominant influence of socio-economic conditions and the state policy on the social work profession in Serbia. Also, the paper presents positivist foundation and postmodern and constructivist approach in social work as the main theoretical trends in Serbia. It emphasises that the relation between positivism and constructivism in the social work has characteristics of theoretical, epistemological, methodological and ideological "rivalries". Contemporary social work in Serbia should take into account not only the (post)modem customer perspective as the basis of its activity: the user perspective should be integrated into real understanding of material reality of users, methods of distribution of social resources and global social structures within which social work operates. Advocacy and empowerment are the key perspectives of social workers during the economic crisis. Empowerment becomes one of the responses to the crisis since its basis incorporates the key values and the purpose of the social work mission: social justice, care for vulnerable groups of population and a proactive approach.