Social work and the politics of ‘austerity’: Ireland and Italy

Abstract

No detailed analyses have been undertaken comparing and contrasting how social work is responding to the problems generated by the imposition of so-called 'austerity' measures in Europe. Comprised of three sections, the discussion is focused on Ireland and Italy. This comparative exploration locates social work within encompassing frameworks related to the changing population, political economy and welfare regime in each of these jurisdictions. Aspects of contemporary social work within Ireland and Italy are charted and the possibilities for confronting neoliberal 'austerity' are analysed. The article seeks to prompt and encourage comparative reflection within Europe in relation to how the social work imagination can be imbued with a new radicalism in the first quarter of the twenty-first century.Non ci sono studi dettagliati dedicati a analizzare e discutere come il servizio sociale stia rispondendo ai problemi provocati dall'imposizione delle misure della cosiddetta 'austerità' in Europa. Composto di tre parti l'articolo si focalizza su Irlanda e Italia. Questa esplorazione comparativa colloca il servizio sociale all'interno di alcune cornici generali legate ai cambiamenti socio demografici, alla politica economica e ai regimi di welfare in vigore in questi paesi. Vengono delineate le principali caratteristiche del servizio sociale contemporaneo in Irlanda e in Italia e si analizzano le possibilità di far fronte e contrastare all'austerità neoliberista. L'articolo cerca di promuovere e incoraggiare una riflessione comparativa europea in merito a come l'immagine del servizio sociale del primo quarto del ventunesimo secolo possa essere permeata di un nuovo radicalismo.

Social workers' views on community involvement in child protection work in Italy

“…This perception matched the results of the most recent studies carried out at national level in Italy, which reveal a marked change in the working conditions of social workers in services characterized not only by high bureaucratization but also by the increasing intrusion of rationalization of resources and managerialism(Garrett & Bertotti, 2017).The debate has shown how the pressure for control exercised through bureaucracy and the rationalization of costs and procedures can be mitigated by the operators in its most negative effects by the ability to manage the margins of work uncertainty through professional skills. The various forms of community involvement are more frequent in local administrative protection.…”

“…The large majority of interviewees highlighted a strong increase in the managerial and bureaucratic regulation of the organizational context in which they worked. This perception matched the results of the most recent studies carried out at national level in Italy, which reveal a marked change in the working conditions of social workers in services characterized not only by high bureaucratization but also by the increasing intrusion of rationalization of resources and managerialism (Garrett & Bertotti, 2017).…”

Social workers: a new precariat? Precarity conditions of mental health social workers working in the non-profit sector in Greece

“…This claim is refuted not only by the experiences of this study's research participants in Greece but by the rising trends of global inequality. This paper furthers the international debate about the devastating effects of austerity, which are multi-faceted, extensive and deep, and clearly undermine people's personal and social well-being, and the need to challenge them and fight for another society that centres around the needs of people, for the sake of the welfare state, the social work profession, the service users and social justice for all (Garrett & Bertotti, 2017;Pentaraki, 2013). A clear mandate for the social work profession towards this end is reflected in the statement against austerity by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW, 2016), produced while in Greece by the professional social work associations of Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK.…”

Crossing boundaries for the future of social work education

“…Social workers share the same worsening of labor conditions that affects the whole population, experiencing low salaries, increasing unemployment and precarity, especially regarding the young and women. The risk of having 'austerity social workers', compliant to policies, imbued with sense of precariousness, whose expectations about careers and professional fulfilment are lowered or destroyed, is real (Garrett & Bertotti, 2017).…”