This book theorises how social work, as a theoretical and practical discipline, could be brought into a critical dialogue with the concept of democracy. The issue is particularly acute since anti-democratic forces are now democratically elected in several European nations, implying that social work institutions are increasingly steeped according to neoliberal and anti-democratic logic. The book elaborates on a response to this trend by showing how social work can avoid the traps of contemporary discourse by which democracy is to be protected with repressive means. In elaborating on democracy as inextricably related to justice, emancipation and equality, this book explores democracy as a liberating force much closer to the spirit and tradition of critical and radical social work. By endorsing a view of democracy as contradictory, paradoxical, and based on dissensus, this book frames social work as a democratic force in the struggle for justice and equality.
Chapter 1: On Democracy and Social Work.
Chapter 2: The Spectacle of
Liberal Democracy.
Chapter 3: Democracy Suspended: The Production of
Exception.
Chapter 4: Social Work in the Liberal Democratic Utopia.
Chapter
5: Down the Rabbit Hole: Conspiracy Theories, Populism, Passions.
Chapter 6:
What Good Are Democratic Ideals if You Are Hungry? Reclaiming Democracy for
the Economically Marginalised.
Chapter 7: Repoliticising Citizenship for
Social Work.
Chapter 8: Six Theses for a Democratic Social Work.
Magnus Weber is PhD and senior lecturer in Social Work at Gothenburg University, Sweden. His research focuses on democracy, religion, and critical social work. Drawing on phenomenology, political theory and psychoanalysis, his work examines professional resistance and political/radical social work in relation to contemporary ideologies in social work. He has published in international journals and edited volumes, including work on failure, death, and resistance in relation to social work and political life.
Marcus Herz is Professor of Social Work at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His research focuses on critical and radical social work, with particular attention to theorizing social work, migration, gender, ethnicity, race, social class and youth studies. Previous books include Social Work, Young Migrants and the Act of Listening (with Philip Lalander, Routledge) and Youth Studies in Transition: Culture, Generation and New Learning Processes (with Thomas Johansson, Springer)
Zulmir Beevi is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His research focuses on critical and political theory, citizenship, democracy, youth participation, and political social work. His most recent book is Youth Participation and Learning: Critical Perspectives on Citizenship Practices in Europe (with Björn Andersson, Springer). He has published widely in international journals on youth, citizenship, and critical social work. He is also co-editor of a special issue on Political and Transformative Approaches in Social Work in the European Journal of Social Work.
