ABSTRACT
Social work has a long tradition as an activity appealing to notions and feelings of common humanity, both as philanthropy and as radical social change. However, it has a relatively short history as an established profession and an academic discipline. The current manifestation of social work, certainly in societies that are considered to be social democracies, has been shaped by the welfare bureaucracies that employ social workers in large numbers. In developing countries social work remains a largely informal activity, often associated with broader social and political movements. In developed countries without a strong welfare tradition, such as the United States, it is more individualised, a clinical practice with restricted access. Although all professions are shaped by time and place, perhaps none is quite as susceptible as social work.
