THE SOCIAL-WORK PROFESSION IN ASIA - LOOK HOMEWARD 1968-1993

Responding to the chosen theme for this issue - the inadequate orientation of Asian Social Work to the harsh realities of the region, as voiced by innumerable veterans in the field - the author of this paper examines the implications of these statements and then revisits the recommendations made by UN's ''Explorations'' (1972) to see what remains valid and appropriate today. The Mobile Training Scheme's success and ultimate failure is also discussed, followed by the reasons for the demise of the organised profession in development. The author concludes that social work can find a developmental role in an almost limitless range of situations and does not need to cramp its vision, style and potential in settings, agencies and concepts of ''professional'' which imitate those that have emerged in affluent countries for the minority who it is conceived as needing to be ''adjusted''.