Transnational Social Support

11  Paradoxes of TransnationalKnowledge Production in Social Work

Stefan Köngeter

INTRODUCTION

Transnational studies pose a challenge to social work that is reflected on at least two distinct levels. First, there is growing evidence that social relations and practices cannot be analysed only within the confines of the nation-state anymore, as numerous transnational processes can be observed that transcend those confines at the level of individuals, communities, or organisations. Second, the debate about the transnationalisation of the social world (Pries 2008) shows that the neglect of these transnational processes is a symptom of an inherent weakness in social science methodology and theory building. The social sciences have overlooked the importance ...