Why Social Workers in Iran Have Little Influence in Macro‑Level Decision‑Making
Introduction
In many countries social work is an academic‑professional field that actively participates in high‑level policy making; in Iran its presence is largely limited to field services and community‑development programs in health, education and welfare. This article examines the reasons behind the marginal role of social workers in macro‑level decision‑making and highlights the potential contributions they could make in security and social policy.
Historical Background of Social Work in Iran
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Period
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Key Points
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1950s‑1960s
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Emergence of the first social‑work‑related development programs; establishment of social‑work departments in a few universities.
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1970s‑1980s
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Adoption of initial legislation (Social Development Law 2003); expansion of field services in health, rehabilitation and child protection.
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1990s‑present
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Increase in qualified social workers; involvement in hospitals, schools and NGOs, while participation in central institutions (ministries, Supreme Planning Council) remains limited.
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Why Social Workers Are Absent from Macro‑Decision‑Making
Legal and Institutional Framework
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Limited statutes – Existing laws (e.g., the Social Development Law) focus on field services and contain no provision for participation in central decision‑making bodies.
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No formal definition of a “social‑work role” in central structures – Ministries and planning councils do not list “social worker” as a consultant or decision‑maker.
Bureaucratic and Hierarchical Structure
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Centralised decision‑making – Strategic decisions are traditionally taken by political, military and economic elites.
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Multiple decision‑making layers – Numerous ministries, semi‑military organisations and the Supreme National Security Council make it difficult to delineate responsibilities; social workers are generally regarded as “service providers”, not “policy makers”.
Lack of Data‑Driven Evidence
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National data repositories are scarce – Large‑scale social statistics are normally compiled by health or education ministries, with little direct involvement from social workers.
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Few applied research studies – There is a shortage of peer‑reviewed work that directly links social work interventions to outcomes in security or economic development.
Cultural and Professional Perceptions
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Public perception – Decision‑makers often view social work merely as “assistance for vulnerable individuals”, not as systemic analysis.
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Educational focus – Curricula emphasise individual assessment and counselling rather than macro‑analysis, policy formulation and political negotiation.
Political and Security Constraints
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Sensitivity of security matters – High‑level security policies are handled by military and intelligence bodies; civil participation in these areas is minimal due to perceived risks.
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Restrictive regulations – Some laws limit direct collaboration between NGOs (including social‑work associations) and state institutions at senior levels.
Potential Capacities of Social Workers for Macro‑Level Decision‑Making
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Domain
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Suggested Role
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Social data analysis
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Collect, process and interpret statistics on poverty, unemployment, internal migration, and psychosocial impacts of crises.
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Preventive policy design
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Develop evidence‑based programmes to prevent delinquency, domestic violence and mental‑health problems.
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Legislative input
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Participate in drafting labour law, child‑protection law and disability rights legislation.
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Comprehensive policy development
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Advocate for user‑centred policies that reflect the real needs of communities.
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Social impact assessment
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Evaluate economic‑social effects of government programmes (e.g., housing, infrastructure) from a justice perspective.
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International Benchmarks (General Overview)
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Scandinavian countries – Social workers serve as advisors in national planning councils, particularly in social‑security policy.
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Canada – Social‑work professionals contribute to housing policy design, representing vulnerable households.
These examples demonstrate that integrating field expertise with systemic analysis can improve macro‑policy outcomes; adopting similar mechanisms in Iran would require legal, educational and structural reforms.
Roadmap for Enhancing the Role of Social Workers in Macro‑Decision‑Making
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Enact new legislation – Insert clauses that mandate the presence of social‑work consultants in national councils (e.g., Supreme Planning Council, Security Council).
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Revise academic curricula – Add courses on “Public Policy”, “Macro‑Data Analysis” and “Political Negotiation”.
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Create a National Social Data Repository – Enable social workers to collect and share data directly with policy‑making bodies.
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Establish joint task forces – Between ministries (Health, Education, Cooperation and Social Development) and professional social‑work associations.
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Provide political‑skill training – Workshops on stakeholder communication, policy paper writing and advocacy.
Conclusion
The limited involvement of social workers in Iran’s macro‑level decision‑making stems from a combination of legal, bureaucratic, cultural and educational factors. By reforming legal frameworks, strengthening data capabilities and creating collaborative mechanisms, the profession’s substantial potential for improving security, social justice and sustainable development can be fully realised.
