Changing Contexts of Practice: Challenges for Social Work and Community Development

ABSTRACT

In a rapidly changing global environment, there have been renewed calls to position community development more centrally in social work, particularly in the face of contemporary practice challenges. This paper analyses the broad policy contexts of neoliberalism, globalisation, and governance change and discusses how these forces interact with social work and community development, drawing on examples from Australia and Ireland. The paper argues that sociopolitical forces both restrict and present opportunities for social work and community development practice and we seek to reactivate debate about the position of community development within changing and challenging contexts.

IMPLICATIONS

• Contextualises community development practice, policy, and research within contemporary environments of neoliberalism, globalisation, and governance change.

• Critically evaluates implications and new opportunities for social work and community development, drawing on examples from Australia and Ireland.

• Reactivates debate and analysis on the position of community development in contemporary social work as we move forward into the new decade, and the next global agenda for social work and social development.

在快速变化的全球环境中，有人呼吁社会工作要把社区发展视为中工作，以应对当前来自实践的挑战。本文以澳大利亚和爱尔兰为例，分析了新自由主义、全球化以及治理变迁的政策语境，讨论了它们如何与社会工作及社区发展互动。作者认为，社会政治力量对于社会工作和社区发展既是限制也是机会。我们探讨在变化与挑战的环境中重新讨论社区发展的地位。

KEYWORDS:

• Neoliberalism
• Globalisation
• Governance
• Community Development
• Social Work

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.