This study focuses on current discussions around the newly-built Society Work Department in China. It argues that ‘society work’ helps to clarify the internationally recognized concept of ‘social work’ and this institutional reform promotes development of the social work profession and discipline, it also helps to decolonize social work in China.
CoatesJGrayMHetheringtonT (2006) An ‘ecospiritual’ perspective: Finally, a place for indigenous approaches. The British Journal of Social Work36(3): 381–399.
2.
FengSZWeiQG (2024) Anchoring the orientation of society work in the new era. Chinese Social Science Today, 24December, p. 3.
3.
GrayM (2008) Some considerations on the debate on social work in China: Who speaks for whom?International Journal of Social Welfare17(4): 400–406.
4.
GuanXPZhangFL (2025) The basic principles and paths for constructing an independent knowledge system for China’s social work. Journal of Social Work (in Chinese). 01(316): 18–24; 152–153 (in Chinese).
5.
HeXS (2024) The three integration of centralization and decentralization in society work. Chinese Social Science Today, 24December, p. 3.
6.
LeiJLuoMWangY (2022) Validating a model for indicating the professionalisation of social work in China. Journal of Social Work22(3): 758–778.
7.
LinS (2022) Social work indigenization in Mainland China: Towards a state-led decolonizing framework. Journal of Social Work22(1): 188–210.
8.
MengQGrayMBradtL, et al. (2022) A critical review of Chinese and international social work: Walking a tightrope between local and global standards. International Social Work65(6): 1301–1313.
9.
Society Work Department of the CPC Central Committee (2024) Introduction to the department. Available at: https://www.zyshgzb.gov.cn/index.html (accessed 10 October 2024).
10.
TsuiMSYanMC (2010) Developing social work in developing countries: Experiences in the Asia Pacific region. International Social Work53(3): 307–310.
11.
WangSB (2013) Different interpretations of social work in China: A comparative analysis. Chinese Education and Society46(6): 7–15.
12.
WangSB (2024) Understanding she-hui-gong-zuo: Social work or society work. China Social Work31: 6 (in Chinese).
13.
XuDW (2023) Re-thinking social work under the new situation. China Social Work25: 24–25 (in Chinese).
14.
XuYBLiQCCuiM (2022) Snapshot of social work in China: Outcomes of stakeholder competition. The British Journal of Social Work52(1): 198–216.
15.
YanMCTsuiMS (2007) The quest for Western social work knowledge: Literature in the United States and practice in China. International Social Work50(5): 641–653.
16.
Yuen-TsangAWKWangSB (2008) Revitalization of social work in China: The significance of human agency in institutional transformation and structural change. China Journal of Social Work1(1): 5–22.