Understanding professional dominance in the legalization process: A case study of Chinese social work stations

Abstract As societies with early social work development, such as those in the West, and those with later development, such as China, begin to critically assess the traditional Western paradigm of social work, the formation and evolution of social work professionalism become increasingly diverse and complex. This study employs a case study methodology, selecting representative cases in China to gather data. The objective is to elucidate why, in the professionalization process of social work, local ‘licenced community workers’, who occupy multiple roles and come from non-traditional backgrounds, often predominate over individuals from social work institutions with conventional education and experience. This article, in conjunction with the unique legalization trajectory of social work in China and the underlying forces, posits that China's legalization process follows a distinct sequence: ‘political legitimacy → social legitimacy → historical and cultural legitimacy’. During this progression, social work in China has transitioned from the emergence of dual professional forces to the ascendance of local licenced community workers, and ultimately, to their leadership in the professionalization of social work. The findings of this study demonstrate the gradual dominance of non-traditional social work forces and the reasons for this shift.