Neoliberalism and Austerity in Spain, Portugal and South Africa: The Revolution of Older Persons

Abstract

A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This paper stems from a Marie Curie EU-FP7-International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) [295203], concerning ten EU and non-EU countries, which sought to examine the role of social work and its engagement with civil society in supporting vulnerable members of the community. The project is being undertaken under the auspices of an EU Framework 7Marie Curie, IRSES; project no: 318938; project acronym: NL_CIVIL. ABSTRACTIn Portugal, Spain and South Africa, there has been a noted anti-neoliberal resistance, marked by the significant participation of the older generation in protest movements. Changing demographics, the global financial crisis, unemployment, poverty, and the reliance of the family nucleus on the pensioner, coupled with neoliberal and austerity-based reductions to welfare programmes, pensions, health, and social care, has caused the "silver revolution". As a population group that is often considered to be less politically active and robust members of society, such resistance is a noteworthy moment in society that needs to be considered and responded to.

(Non-)Politicized Ageism: Exploring the Multiple Identities of Older Activists

“…The 15M movement started predominantly as a youth movement [46] but gradually became intergenerational [47]. Older adults joined the cycle of protests in sectoral initiatives supporting public health and education, social services, and water as a human right [48]. Iaioflautas was first formed in Barcelona in October 2011 and rapidly spread in different cities at the state level [49].…”

Student teamwork in professional programmes in higher education: a comparative study of Spain and South Africa

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The Fourfold Neoliberal Impact on Social Work and Why This Matters in Times of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond

“…The notions of key authors such as Howe (1996), Jones (2001), Harris (2003; and Harvey (2014) will be used to describe the relationship between neoliberalism and social work, and this will be complemented with the few relevant contemporary social work studies on the topic. Although South African case studies, such as those by Engelbrecht (2015) and , are referenced to substantiate some of the arguments in this article, broader comparative international studies such as those by Ornellas, Engelbrecht, Martínez-Román, Tortosa-Martínez, Casanova and Das Dores Guerreiro, (2017), Ornellas et al (2019) and Spolander et al (2014)will also be used to highlight the fact that the impact of neoliberalism on social work is a universal phenomenon.…”