Social Workers and Social Justice During a Period of Intensive Neoliberalization: A Preliminary Investigation From the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Despite the championing of social justice within the discourse of social work, some express concern that there has been a dilution in the profession’s practical commitment to seeking a more just society. The article begins by defining social justice and then refers to a number of studies that have endeavored to identify whether or not social justice is being pursued by practitioners. It is argued that renewing efforts to achieve social justice is particularly relevant in times of intensive neoliberalization. In this context, we discuss the comments of a small number of Irish practitioners. This preliminary study indicates that social workers are struggling to achieve limited social justice gains in organizationally difficult and fraught situations. The findings suggest that some practitioners, located in stultifying working environments, are blunted in their capacities to pursue social justice demands for their clients and for themselves. However, a more wide-ranging research project, composed of a more substantial and diverse sample of respondents, would need to be formulated to further explore this theme.

KEYWORDS:

• social justice
• neoliberalism
• social work practice

Notes

¹ SWAN UK was founded following the publication of the Social Work and Social Justice Manifesto in 2004 (Jones, Ferguson, Lavalette, & Penketh, 2004). See also the SWAN UK website: http://www.socialworkfuture.org/. SWAN (Ireland), initiated more recently, is a campaigning organization whose main aim is to create a space where social workers, social care workers, students, service users, carers, academics, and members of the public can come together, equally and collectively, to campaign for a more just society. The organization is not an alternative to a trade union, but members are united in their concern that social work practice is being undermined by the stigmatization of service users and by welfare cuts and restrictions. In March 2014, SWAN (Ireland) held a national demonstration outside Dáil Éireann, the Irish Parliament. This event was organized because of plans to cut the salaries of newly qualified social workers by 20%. See also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQahPuTRRf4.