Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad

Research Proposal

Shinsuke Funaki

Assistant Lecturer

Department of Social Welfare Science

Faculty of Nursing and Social Welfare Science

Fukui Prefectural University

The influence of ‘post-modernism’ on social work theory and practice in Australia

Prior research

My recent research concern has been the role and significance of [Soudan] (*Soudan in Japanese means social work consultation /counseling which is constructed by a dialogue) in social policy and practice in Japan. I have focused on Community Care Support Centres (CCSC - which are the only public institution for outreach-type [Soudan] in each junior high school area in Japan) and conducted research on the changing policy trends and their influence on practice. Other studies have noted the reduction of personal costs and the sudden increase of in the workload of staff in CCSC after the introduction of Long-Term Care Insurance (2000). As a result, social workers in CCSC have had to reduce the scope of [Soudan] and limit the number of clients for [Soudan]. These studies also examined only technical and functional problems for practitioners such as how to react and overcome these problems (Hisatsune and Funaki 2003a, 2003c).

In my research, in order to fully understand the changing role and significance of [Soudan] in CCSC, I conducted questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews with all staff in CCSC in Fukui Prefecture and semi-structured interviews among 134 elderly people from age 65 to 84 (random samplings in 4 regional areas). The analysis of this research suggests that practitioners in CCSC tried to make the most of the characteristic policies for CCSC (for example, 24 hours continuous response on [Soudan], outreach-type [Soudan] in each junior high school area, and the staff arrangement of both social work and nursing profession). Although policy makers’ intentions, which attempt to shift the role of [Soudan] from a treatment to a coordination, had been strong traditionally in Japanese social policy, practitioners had the possibility of finding out a new role as a dialogue in [Soudan] and its developmental significance through their practices, However, the changing role of [Soudan] as a dialogue in CCSC practices decreased readily in reality as a result of the changing policy. Practitioners also had difficulty in changing their practices to respond to the reality of the life condition and consciousness of people in the community (Funaki 2000b, 2000c, 2001b, Hisatsune and Funaki 2000a, 2002, 2003a, 2003b).

I presented an essay arguing that these phenomena reflect the transition of the role and significance of [Soudan] in social policy and practice in Japan as a whole. They would also demonstrate the separation between social work theory and practice in Japan; between ‘social work theories which were imported from western countries and developed in Japan’ and ‘the actual role and function of [Soudan] in practices’ (Funaki and Mano 2004, Hisatsune and Funaki 2003c). Other literature suggests that, in terms of the relationship between social work theory in Japan and the practice of [Soudan], social work theories which were imported from the USA after World War II seem to have affected the practice of [Soudan] as the mainstream of Japanese social work theory (For example, this can be seen in the development of the practice model from psycho-dynamic case work to case management). However, it would be appropriate to view that practitioners have had a strong tendency to use social work theories and practical models from the USA as a result of the deliberate intention of policy makers in the central government. The policy administration in the central government has been more directly influential to the practice level in the history of Japanese social policy. As a recent example, the intention of the policy side to promote economic rationalism and commodification brought about the introduction of a ‘Care Management System’ in Long-Term Care Insurance. Most social work practitioners accepted the positivist model of social service delivery such as ‘Case management’, ‘System-ecological approach’, and ‘Life model’ without asking what sorts of social work theory and value their practice have been based on and how the change of policies affect their theory and value for the social work practice (Hisatsune and Funaki 2003c).

Moreover, the separation between social work theory and practice in Japan would bring about a separation between the practice and the life condition and consciousness of people in the community. Modern social work practice, based on the assumption that autonomous modern ‘citizens’ exist as in western society, is illogical to Japanese society and social structure, in which the traditional value of a village-type society still remains in the people’s consciousness in many local areas. My research suggest the actuality of the regional communities in Japan reflects very little true dialogue between people in Japan, for example, many elderly people don’t speak their real intentions to others, don’t have a consciousness for their rights of [Soudan], and have a strong stigma against social services which is based on the traditional value of economic and physical independence (Funaki 2003, 2004, Hisatsune and Funaki 2003c).

The separation between social work theory and practice referred to above has led to a strong criticism of modern social work theories in western countries. In the field of social work and social policy, which emphasizes social science as the basis of practice, the influence of post-modernism to social work theory and practice has been actively discussed since the 1990s in the UK, Canada, and Australia. This discussion has included both criticism and deconstructionism pitted against positivist modern social work theory, as well as an examination of the management model as a form of liberalism. The development of these discussions seems to have generally been confused by a lack of consensus in theories of social work and social policy.

The origin of post-modern tendencies in social work theory rose in radical social work, which developed in the UK and the USA (Baily and Brake 1975, Galper 1980). It developed into feminist social work or structural social work, which advocated the importance of human rights and social justice as an objection to those social structures　which discriminated against social minorities. On the other hand, post-structural social work theory, which is influenced by French social thinkers like Foucault, and Derrida, became popular in the 1990s. It places importance on plural ‘discourse’ and ‘power’ rather than meta-narrative definitions of social structure and relations. Academics especially in Australia have attempted to fuse these tendencies of post-modern social work into ‘Critical Social Work’ based on critical social theory. The new movement of social work has been the centre of attention internationally in recent years (Fook 2002, Ife 2001, Healy 2000).

Discourse of critical social work such as ‘Social change’, ‘Liberation’, ‘Human rights’, and ‘Social justice’ may have exerted a strong influence on the new definition of social work adopted by the International Federation of Social Workers in 2000. As for social work academics in Japan, some literature (Noguchi 1995, Kamo 1998) has discussed the possibility of post-modern social work theory in Japan. However, studies on post-modern social work in Japan have examined very limited views such as social constructionism in USA and the use of the term ‘post-modern’ in these studies is often divorced from its theoretical meaning in the western context (Funaki 2004, Hisatsune and Funaki 2003c).

In my past research, I tried to suggest that [Soudan] as a western-style dialogue used by CCSC could lead to a new social work approach based on human rights. However, I now recognize that this would prove little more than a criticism against present policy and practical models of social work, and would only be another case of importing a western-style technique, which ignores the relationship between theory and practice in Japan. I believe that further research is important to recognize and examine how the relationship between theory and practice in social work is changed in order to reflect the life condition and consciousness of people in the community and Japanese social structure. I suggest that this is more important than calculating the practical efficiency of the new theory as is common in Japanese social work studies.

The object of the study

This study would attempt to examine a genealogy of post-modern social work theory and practice in Australia and analyze the theoretical transition from modern social work theory to Critical Social Work, based on values of human rights and social justice. I would like to examine the impetus for change in the relationship between theory and practice in the social work field by focusing on the influence of recent theoretical transitions in social work practice in Australia. This would assist me in examining the influence of post-modern social work theory on social work practice in Japan. It would also contribute to a discussion of the possibility of re-constructing a theoretical and practical framework based on human rights and social justice in this field of study in Japan. I use the term ‘re-constructing’ to indicate that the process is neither importing a technique of western-type social work theory nor constructing a new approach in the existent traditional or modern method, rather deconstructing an accepted methodology to develop theory and practice in social work and constructing a new framework which reflects the life condition and consciousness of people in the community and Japanese social structure.

Academic possibilities and originality

In the academic field of social work and social policy studies in Japan, studies on the influence of “post-modernism” are still fragmentary and limited, and include very few basic theoretical studies. For example, the Japanese Society for the Study of Social Welfare has not sufficiently discussed the consistency between the new definition of IFSW and social work theory in Japan. Social work techniques and methods with different theoretical orientations coexist in this field of study in Japan. For instance, the Japanese Association of Certified Social Workers welcomed the afore-mentioned change into the new definition of Social Work by IFSW and officially approved it. On the other hand, most social workers use US based social work models which is contradictory to Critical Social Work. In other words, it is possible that different theoretical backgrounds may co-exist without any contradiction even in social work practice and academic study in Japan.

On the other hand, disability studies and social movements by or for people with physical or mental disabilities in Japan have a relatively long history of supporting anti-professionalism and de-institutionalization. They have tried to deconstruct social work studies and adopt post-modern theory into their practice. They would provide an example of the influence of post-modernism on social work theory and practice in Japan. In light of these academic considerations, this study would include the influence of ‘post-modernism’ in other fields of study in the social sciences and has high academic potential as a pioneer study in social work and social policy studies in Japan.

Moreover, it will be very significant to research critical social work theory and practice in Australia, which has turned out many academics with remarkable studies in this field. In theoretical research about social work as a practical social science it is essential to conduct research on not only the academic theory but on the influence of the new theoretical framework to social work practice. Therefore, it is important to have a research environment in Australia in which I can grasp the real-time and actual information about the activities and consciousness of social work practitioners and the life condition and consciousness for people in the community who use social services.

It is important to say that the object of my research is neither to learn a new social work theory abroad nor to examine its efficiency in practice. My past research has already pointed out that the introduction of social work theories and practical models from western countries has been an importation, which ignores the relationship between theoretical transition and practice. It is expected that the discussion about post-modern social work and practice will become important in Japan in the near future. In order to solve this problem of the importation of social work theory which does not consider the life condition and consciousness of people in the community and Japanese social structure, my research would concentrate on critical social work theory and practice in Australia. I would use this as a case study and analyze the social factors that these theoretical movements have advanced in a western society such as Australia. It would have critical academic potential to examine the relationship between a genealogy of social work theory and practice, as well as explore the social factors affecting this changing relationship

In addition, the globalization of social-economic conditions would strengthen the social necessity of researching the influence of ‘post-modernism’ and other social theories on social work theory and practice. The academic possibilities and originality of my research theme would contribute to re-constructing a new theoretical and practical framework as a basic material in the social work field of study in Japan and contribute to the development of the future theoretical social work study in Japan.

Research plan (August 2005 to July 2007)

2005-2006

1) Reviewing literature about the influence of post-modernism in social work theory and practice

a. I would analyze past research and review literature about a genealogy of modern social work theory and the influence of post-modern social work, and consider the theoretical transition of radical social work which is the origin of post-modern social work and its relationship with modern social work.

b. I would examine past research and review literature about the social factors/ socio-economic backgrounds for the change from ‘modern’ to ‘post-modern’ in social science theories in western society. I would particularly explore the theoretical transition of post-modernism and post-structuralism in Australia.

c. I would analyze past research and review literature about the theoretical transition of critical social work theory in Australia and how post-modernism and post-structuralism affect existing social work theories and lead to constructing the theoretical and practical framework of critical social work, which is based on human rights and social justice.

d. I would like to build a hypothesis about the key factors changing the relationship between social work theory and practice in Australia.

2006-2007

1) Conducting qualitative interview research about the influence of post-modernism in social work education.

a. I would conduct semi-structured interviews with social work academics about the influence of ‘post-modernism’ on their curriculum in social work education

b. I would conduct semi-structured interviews with students about the influence of ‘post-modernism’ on their understandings of the professional expertise.

c. I would make transcripts of qualitative interview data and analyze the influence of ‘post-modernism’ on social work education with the theoretical framework that I will consider in 2005.

2) Conducting qualitative interview research about the influence of post-modernism on social work practice

a. I would conduct interviews with social workers to grasp the real influence of the theoretical transition from modern social work to critical social work and understanding among social workers in practice. The interview method would be semi-structured interviews with social workers who are working in community care service agencies for elderly people.

b. I would make transcripts of qualitative interview data and analyze the consciousness and understanding of the professional expertise and value basis in social work practices with the theoretical framework that I will consider in 2005.

2) Examination about the whole research and summary

a. I would consider a hypothesis about the key factors changing the relationship between social work theory and practice in Australia.

b. I would re-examine the past research results pertaining to the factors of the separation between social work theory and practice in Japan. I would like to explore the possibility of re-constructing a new framework of social work theory and practice in Japan.

Additional benefits for proceeding with this research proposal

1) I would set up a Web-site and BBS about post-modern social work theory and practice on the server of Fukui Prefectural University, Japan and provide academic information and promote international academic exchanges between advanced social work academics and social work practitioners in Australia and Japan.

2) I finished my post-graduate study (Master of Arts: social policy, Supervisor: Honorary Associate Professor Janet George) on social work and social policy in the University of Sydney and conducted empirical research through fieldwork (1997 ~1999) in the community service agencies in two local government areas in Australia (Funaki 1998, 2000a, 2001a). I would make the most use of this social network with social work practitioners and people in the community and suggest an international study exchange for this research topic.

Budget information

Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad covers travel expenses, a stipend, a research grant (about 4 million yen, $50000Australian each year). The University of Sydney will be under no financial obligation for my research visits. I would request only acceptance as a visiting scholar in the School of Social Work and Policy Studies and access to post-graduate study space, computer and library access in the University of Sydney.

Reference:

Bailey, Roy and Brake, Mike (eds)(1975) Radical Social Work, London:Edward Arnold.

Fook, Jan (2002) Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice, SAGE.

Galper, Jeffrey (1980) Politics of the Social Services, Eglewood Cliffs,

NJ:Prentice-Hall.

Ife, Jim (2001) Human Rights and Social Work: Towards Rights- Based Practice,

Cambridge.

Kamo, kiyoshi (1998) human sarbisu ron (Human Service theory), Sekaishisousya.

Noguchi, Yuji(1995) Kouseisyugi apurocch posutomodan sousyaruwa-ku no kanousei

(Constructionist approach – Possibility of postmodern social work), Social work kenkyu (Social Work studies).

Funaki, Shinsuke (1998) The co-ordination of community care services for elderly

people in NSW – comparative case study in two local government areas in NSW, Master thesis, the Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Sociology, The University of Sydney.

Funaki, Shinsuke (2000a) Borantia to Shiminken (Volunteer and Citizenship ~ a case

study of the experience as a volunteer of community care services in Australia), Nihon borantia Gakkai (Volunteer Studies Association of Japan), Vol0, 116-121.

Funaki, Shinsuke (2000b) Community Care Supports for Elderly People ~the influence

of the introduction of Long-Term Insurance System in Japan~, Study Seminar on Well-being in Australia and Japan, The University of Sydney, 31 March 2000.

Funaki, Shinsuke (2000c) Zaitakukaigosien centar no yobouteki tiikifukushikino

(Preventive community welfare function of Community Care Support Centres, 48^th The National Conference of Japanese Society for the Study of Social Welfare, 3 November, 2000.

Funaki, Shinsuke (2001a) Koureisya zaitaku fukusi sarbisu niokeru tihobunken to tiiki

minsyusyugi no juyousei (The Importance of Local Democracy under Decentralization ~A Case　Study in Two Local Government Areas at New South Wales, Australia~), Australian Studies Association of Japan, No.13, 77-86.

Funaki, Shinsuke (2003) Fukushi senmonsyoku kara mieta komuniti mental helusu

(Community mental health and social work professional education), in Ysuhiro Ujiie (ed) Community Mental Health, Hihyo-sya , 135-153.

Funaki, Shinsuke and Mano, Motoshiro (2004) The influence of Long-Term Care

Insurance policy to the empowerment of human rights for elderly people in Japan, Global Social Work 2004: Reclaiming Civil Society: the 17^th World Conference of the International Federation of Social Workers, 2-5 October 2004 Adelaide, SA, Ausralia

Hisatsune, Takashi and Funaki, Shinsuke (2000a) Zaitakukaigosien centar no yobouteki

tiikifukushikino (Preventive community welfare function of Community Care Support Centres), Fukui’s Scientist, No.81, 17-26.

Hisatsune, Takashi and Funaki, Shinsuke (2002) Zaitakukaigosien centar no yakuwari to

kinou niokeru seisakujissen kadai no hihanteki kentou (a Critical approach to the problems in the policy and practice about the role and function of Community Care Support Centres), Fukui’s Scientist, No.89, 40-50.

Hisatsune, Takashi and Funaki, Shinsuke (2003a) Zaitakukaigosien centar no yakuwari

to kinou nikansuru jittaittyousa houkoku (1)( Research report about the role and function of Community Support Centres ~the importance of [Soudan] function to realize human rights for the life in the community~ ), Fukui’s Scientist, No.90, 37-47.

Hisatsune, Takashi and Funaki, Shinsuke (2003b) Zaitakukaigosien centar no yakuwari

to kinou nikansuru jittaittyousa houkoku (2)( Research report about the role and function of Community Support Centres ~ community work practice to the prevention in the community~), Fukui’s Scientist, No.91, 50-62.

Hisatsune, Takashi and Funaki, Shinsuke (2003c) Tiiki no seikatsukenhosyou wo

mezasita tiikihukushiseisaku/jissen no saikoutiku ni mukete (Re-construction of Community development for the achievement of human rights in Japan ~ a case study about the role and function of Community Care Support Centres~, Fukui Prefectural Research Fund report 2003.