Is the development of an indigenous perspective on social work values justified? A preliminary conceptual exploration

Abstract

The present paper explores whether sufficient grounds exist for articulating an indigenous value base for social work practice. Since the value base is fundamental for practice, it seems that the call for the development of an indigenous social work practice requires an indigenous value base to guide it. However, in the eyes of skeptics, the idea of an indigenous value base for social work practice may be the result of a conceptual confusion between ‘positive’ and ‘normative’ morality. To illustrate the need for making this distinction, this paper critically appraises the literature that argues for indigenization based on the recognition of the diversity and differences of cultural values. Building on this analysis, the paper suggests that we need to re-examine the conceptual issue of whether the assumption of the discontinuity of social explanation and normative evaluation is warranted.