BRIDGING GAPS: ACCOUNTABILITY CHALLENGES IN ESTONIAN RURAL GOVERNANCE

Abstract

Social work, as a profession, manifests in various forms and serves distinct purposes, contingent upon the specific social and political milieu in which it operates (Weiss-Gal & Levin, 2010; Payne, 2008). In Estonia, the resurgence of social work as a profession in 1991 signified a significant reclamation within the post-communist societal landscape following the reestablishment of independence. This developmental trajectory of social work in Estonia is indelibly influenced by its initial period of independence, the legacies of "Old Europe," and the Soviet era (Raudava, 2013a). The essence of social work intersects with social welfare, witnessing a transformation into the realm of human services. Since 1995, local governments have predominantly overseen the organization of social work in Estonia. The formulation and enactment of the Social Care (Welfare) Act of Estonia in 1995 hewed closely to the foundational principles established during the initial period of independence. Estonian local governments have reinstated the responsibilities of local governance, aligning with the model that was established between 1918 and 1940.