Conceptual and historical analysis of ecological social work

The conceptualization and practical implementation of social work and the environment are currently emerging across the globe in culturally bound diverse understanding. This paper establishes the historical and conceptual... [ view full abstract ]

The conceptualization and practical implementation of social work and the environment are currently emerging across the globe in culturally bound diverse understanding. This paper establishes the historical and conceptual transition of social work and ‘the environment’ by outlining the historical progression of the relationship of social work to the environment and drawing out current understandings of ecological social work. The paper takes an overview of diverse theoretical conceptualizations and practical implementations of ecological social work including green, deep-ecological, eco-social, environmental and social ecological social work. The paper analyses how ecological social work is understood and conceptualized in various contexts of academic and professional culture and environmental incidents in the global social work. The aim is to contribute to a global cooperation of social work’s engagement with the environment. The analysis is done by content-analyzing of the existing literature as well as its practical implications of ecological social work in selected units of research and practice. As a result the paper up-dates and enlarges the previously presented theoretical frame of eco-social approach in social work (Närhi & Matthies 2001). Earlier two different theoretical traditions were identified as the systems theoretical approach (with main emphasis on the social environment) and the eco-critical approach (rooted in environmental movements’ ecological criticism of modern industrial society). In the recent discussions on sustainability and social work, these traditions are coming closer to each other. In order to promote self-understanding in social work, it must be aware of its own ecological traditions in an era in which environmental questions have become the focal point of larger public discussions. Theoretical clarity and practical impacts of environmental thinking in social work are therefore vital due to the increasing significance of environmental issues for the well-being of mankind.