Abstract
This volume offers a fresh outlook into research in social professions in a unique and interesting way. It has attempted to integrate socio-cultural factors harmoniously, giving special consideration to multicultural and multiethnic issues which are of increasing importance in the New Europe and beyond. Through the many diverse articles, this book emphasizes that the concept and application of synergy have become increasingly important in social work and other areas of professional practice. By highlighting synergy, we hope to signify that research contributes to knowledge development when there are dialogue and interaction. In this way each research project is potentiated by the operation of other projects, thus actualizing the gestalt psychology maxim, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’.