The development of a system of social services in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The paper draws on field studies carried out by the author during the course of a Western-sponsored initiative to support curriculum development in the education of social workers for the Russian Federation. It presents a chronology of the development of Russian social welfare laws and institutions during the 1990s, focusing on the major legislation of 1995. Aspects of the ‘welfare mix’ are examined, to locate Russia on the model proposed by Abrahamson (1992). Within this context, the curriculum for social work education is critically reviewed. The paper concludes that, in current circumstances, there are few positive incentives for young graduates to remain in social work after graduation, and that Russia has experienced a shift in provision towards the Southern European type as expressed in Abrahamson’s model, although expectations remain that the state should be the main provider of benefits and services.