Characteristics and challenges of Social Work Professional Organizations: an initial comparative analysis

This chapter takes an initial step toward a comparative analysis of the characteristics and actions of Social Work Professional Organizations (SWPOs) across the 15 countries examined in this book. While the complexity and diversity of national contexts present significant challenges, the comparative analysis undertaken here is intended to hold potential for advancing knowledge of SWPOs from a ‘glocal’ perspective. This approach considers both the specific interactions between each SWPO and its unique context, as well as SWPOs’ shared commitment to internationally defined social work values, often reflected in their affiliation with the IFSW.