Social Work in Contemporary Russia

The article demonstrates the potential of a neo-Weberian approach to the study of professionals working in the field of social work. Based on materials obtained from a regional survey, we have been able to gather certain economic, status, and cultural characteristics of the profession and its interrelationships. The study showed that social work is characterized by a low income, a lack of prestige, and a relative degree of autonomy; the profession is also characterized by a limited sphere of influence, a predominance of institutional regulatory mechanisms, and informal mechanisms. Appeal to the normative-legal context of professionalization leads to the conclusion that practical competence prevails over analytical and managerial qualities for the majority of professionals in the field; however, the majority of these professionals are highly experienced in terms of the structure of social work.