Social Work and Social Welfare in Latin America—Transnational Dynamics and Local Commonalities

Abstract This article examines the development and contemporary configuration of social work and social welfare in Latin America, emphasizing the historical, socio-political, and economic factors that shape the profession in the region. From the establishment of the first schools of social work in the 1920s to the critical reconceptualization movement of the 1960s, the article traces a distinctive trajectory that combines strong international influences with processes of indigenization and politicization. Drawing on a broad body of literature, it then analyses current challenges associated with globalization, neoliberalization, and the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular attention to social inequality, precarization, and the fragility of social rights. Two transnational fields—working children’s movements and drugs and addiction—serve as exemplary cases for understanding how social work engages with social movements, harm reduction strategies, and community-based interventions in contexts of deep inequality and violence. Building on these discussions, the article proposes a model of international social work in Latin America that foregrounds historical sensitivity, social justice, community participation, and horizontal forms of transnational cooperation. Finally, it connects these debates to emerging agendas of climate justice, as highlighted by recent UN climate conferences, arguing that Latin American experiences offer crucial insights for a context-sensitive and politically engaged international social work.