A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN INDIGENIZING SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Abstract

In recent years, the indigenization of social work has become an increasingly prominent topic in international scholarly debates. This reflects growing recognition that Western models of social work education and professional practice do not always adequately correspond to local cultural contexts. In the post-Soviet region, including Kazakhstan, family institutions, kinship networks, traditions of mutual assistance, and national values continue to play a significant role in social life. However, the systematic integration of these cultural resources into social work practice remains insufficiently explored. This article critically examines theoretical and practical models of indigenization developed in the international literature and identifies both the opportunities and limitations of adapting these models to the Kazakhstani context. The study employed bibliometric analysis and a critical literature review. A search of the Scopus database and specialized academic journals identified 250 publications. Following a two-stage screening process based on thematic relevance and practical orientation, 29 articles were selected for in-depth analysis. The findings revealed four major approaches to indigenization: community-based practice grounded in the Ubuntu philosophy in Africa; decolonial approaches in North America and Australia; hybrid models implemented across Asia; and the adaptation of Western social work programs to local cultural contexts. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the development of a national model of social work in Kazakhstan.