Global Mindedness in International Social Work Practice

Book excerpt: International' social work is too often used as a bolt on subject which considers 'others' outside the 'national' framework. Instead this book encourages readers to embrace the concept of 'globally minded social work practice'. This means paying closer attention to globalisation and broader issues of social justice, mirroring the kind of changing professional context social workers practice in today. Drawing on a Local-Global-Local framework, the authors promote critical reflection and dialogue across diverse contexts of practice. They outline why global mindedness is a priority for the future of social work practice before considering how it is defined and applied in practice. Examples are drawn from a wide range of contexts including working with children, young people, adults and communities across different countries.