Social Welfare Policy as a Form of Social Justice

Mauritti

2022

Social Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected European societies. This new crisis arrived after a period of gradual recovery from the 2008 financial crisis that had jeopardized the achievement of Europe Strategy 2020 (ES2020) targets. The need to recover for the Southern European countries, which had austerity programs during the financial crisis, is crucial to ensure a continuum of economic and social development. This study aims to analyze the impact of the two last international crises on the accomplishment of ES2020 goals and how the ‘NextGenerationEU’ program presents a mechanism to recover from the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts. We analyzed secondary statistical data from Eurostat and official European documents. Additionally, we carried out a systematic analysis of 162 measures of the recovery and resilience plan from Southern European countries (Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal). The results showed that ES2020 targets were at risk, particularly in the field of employment, combating poverty, and social exclusion. Currently, there is strong European investment in response to the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, with all countries defining measures adjusted to protect the most vulnerable groups. However, the implications of these responses require a political commitment for them to effectively contribute to sustainable recovery and development.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses to COVID-19 Social and Economic Impacts: A Comparative Analysis in Southern European Countries

Mauritti

2022

Social Sciences

“…In an era of globalisation, the worsening of social phenomena such as poverty, social exclusion, and inequalities alert to the importance of analysis of social policies, methodologies of social intervention and of Social Work itself, in order to reach social justice [29,34,39], assuring equal opportunities and social participation. As an instrument of welfare state, social policies contribute to economic growth and sustainability by acting against market contingencies and against the impacts of global changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The social profession's role in public policies and social protection measures is, unquestionably, to fight social inequalities, poverty, and social exclusion [33][34][35]. In this setting, boundaries arise due to the limitation of resources and have often led to forms of welfare, placing barriers to the promotion of citizenship, and generating greater economic costs [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impacts of Socioeconomic Crisis in Portugal on Social Protection and Social Work Practices

2021

Sustainability

The effects of the international crisis brought economic and financial risks, as well as consequences for human, social and sustainable development. This study aims to analyse the effects of social intervention with families since the 2008 crisis in Portugal. Through a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with social workers (23), to identify the main impacts of the crisis and the adopted social intervention practices. We highlight a new increase in social problems and the growth of vulnerable groups facing an unprepared social protection system. The Portuguese case reveals that the effects of austerity have shown a decline in the welfare and benefits system, leading to worsened social problems, such as increased poverty and unemployment, as well as social inequalities. Social Work was required to respond to these consequences, although organisational contexts and austerity measures constrained practitioners’ autonomy. By reflecting on this critical period, we seek to contribute to better social protection and assistance models in the face of the current and future crisis. In this sense, Social Work practice ensures a means to guarantee fundamental rights and social justice, preparing social workers and social intervention for new challenges in crisis contexts.

“…According to the international definition, social work aims to promote social development, attending to human rights and social justice, supported by ethical principles, theoretical frameworks, specific practice environments and indigenous knowledge (IFSW, 2014). Critical reflection on social problems allows social work to contribute to the empowerment of people and communities (Colby, 2013). Social intervention is based on the multifaceted nature of social problems and considering the ethical principles of social work and its purposes (Banks, 2008;Rocha, 2011), there is an intrinsic link to the safeguard of human rights.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unfolding Social Work Research to Address the COVID-19 Impact: A Text Mining literature Analysis

The British Journal of Social Work

Mauritti

Moro

2022

This article aims to contribute to understanding the main social impacts of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 by highlighting the present and future challenges of social intervention and proposing a research agenda for social workers. Based on main indicators collected from international reports, we categorise the terms associated and analyse 284 Scopus articles that address social work issues in face of the COVID-19 through a text mining literature analysis. By applying topic modelling, we are able to identify relations within the body of knowledge between the main indicators. The results enable to highlight the current trends of research, contributing to leverage knowledge in social work in face of a complex and uncertain society. We find that most articles are focused on professional practice, as well as areas such as health, education and employment. In contrast, we argue that issues related to women or migrants have been less explored. These aspects could bring new perspectives in future research within the pandemic context.