Helmut Spitzer

Biographic Data

ID5822797
NAMEHelmut Spitzer
GIVEN NAMESHelmut
FAMILY NAMESpitzer
SIGNATURESPITZER H
AFFILIATIONSFH Kärnten
ORCID0009-0006-5336-5056
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS9
TOTAL CITATIONS22
AUTHOR COUNT7
EDITOR COUNT2
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2011
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX2

  • “Things are really not in order here”

    Open AccessAmani Kasherwa, Helmut Spitzer et al.ARTICLEInternational Social Work2026

    Self-help groups are well-established mechanisms of mutual support and collective well-being. However, their developmental role in protracted crises remains underexamined. Drawing on qualitative interviews, focus groups, and collaborative vignette analysis in eastern DRC, this study explores how women’s self-help and rotating loan groups function as solidarity networks within developmental social work. The findings highlight self-help groups as a…

  • Social Work and Political Violence in Africa's Great Lakes Region

    Open AccessHelmut SpitzerARTICLEJournal of Social Work2025

    This article discusses the manifestations of political violence and associated challenges for social work in Africa's Great Lakes region. Theoretical reflections refer to Galtung's “triangle of violence” model which analyses the interrelation of direct, structural, and cultural forms of violence. Based on this conceptual framework, the article presents a definition of political violence with a focus on human rights violations against the civilian…

  • Social innovations in rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region. A social work perspective

    Open AccessHelmut Spitzer, Janestic Mwende Twikirize et al.ARTICLEJournal of Rural Studies2021Cited by: 2References: 8

    In Africa's Great Lakes region, many rural communities face serious challenges including chronic poverty, lack of infrastructure, high unemployment, inadequate education systems and healthcare services, as well as a fundamental absence of public social protection mechanisms. In some contexts, rural dwellers suffer from the additional burden of armed conflict and political violence. Yet, rural populations show remarkable indications of resilience …

  • Social Work Practice in Africa

    Janestic Mwende Twikirize, Helmut SpitzerBOOKSocial Work Practice in Africa2019

  • Social work in East Africa

    Open AccessHelmut SpitzerARTICLEInternational Social Work2017Cited by: 14References: 1

    Social work in East Africa is confronted with myriad social and structural problems. The heritage of imported theories and concepts from the West is still affecting education and practice. The profession lacks resources and has only limited influence on social policies. Since 2010, a multi-phase, research-focused project called PROSOWO has been running in order to bring the professionalization of social work on the agenda. In this article, empiri…

  • Ethical Challenges for Social Work in Post-Conflict Situations

    Helmut Spitzer, Janestic Mwende TwikirizeARTICLEEthics and Social Welfare2014References: 6

    During the past decades, the African Great Lakes region has experienced several armed conflicts, widespread political crisis, and large-scale loss of human lives. The civilian population bears the brunt of political turmoil and suffers from direct and structural violence and from the violation of their fundamental human rights. Although social work is still weak in these countries, it can play an important role in peace-building and in the overal…

  • War-affected children in northern Uganda

    Open AccessHelmut Spitzer, Janestic Mwende TwikirizeARTICLEInternational Social Work2012Cited by: 6References: 4

    Armed conflict and war violate children’s rights. In northern Uganda, thousands of children have been forcefully abducted and recruited by an armed opposition group. Despite relative peace and stability since 2006, children suffer from the destruction of the social, economic, and educational infrastructure, and lack of protection of their fundamental rights. This article provides an overview of international legal frameworks pertaining to childre…

  • Soziallandschaften

    Open AccessHelmut Spitzer, Hubert Höllmüller et al.BOOKSoziallandschaften2011

  • Soziallandschaften

    Barbara Hönig, Helmut Spitzer et al.BOOKSoziallandschaften2011