The unique and the invariant in the field of social work: The comparison of Lithuania, Japan, and the United States

For centuries understood as a micro-level caring profession, recently social work is dramatically changing its goals due to structural changes in societies, climate change, migration and political instability. The article employs cross-cultural comparisons that aim to reveal the invariant structure of the social work field, which is realized through the unique manifestations of social work practices in different cultural contexts in Lithuania, Japan, and the United States. The research identifies four social work practices in the professional fields and presents them based on the concepts of field, habitus, and capital, highlighting the similarities and differences between countries in the application of rules of the social field.

Automated summary

Social work, traditionally seen as a profession focused on individual care, is now facing significant changes in its goals due to various factors such as social structure, climate change, migration, and political instability. This article explores the cross-cultural aspects of social work by studying the practices of Lithuania, Japan, and the United States, aiming to identify the core structure of this field. The research identifies four main social work practices in these countries, highlighting both similarities and differences in their application of social field rules.