16th European Conference for Social Work Research (ECSWR)
FACING THE POLYCRISES – RETHINKING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH
The world moves visibly and rapidly away from viewing crises as isolated events toward recognizing them as polycrises – multiple interconnected and simultaneous crises, virtually impossible to contain within a single national or institutional framework. Such interconnections have existed throughout history, but today there is increasing awareness of how crises influence and amplify one another. Against this backdrop, the social work profession is once more reflecting on its position, strengths, and challenges in this evolving world order.
In the context of the recent geopolitical events, the rising political turmoil in various (cross)national and local contexts, the polarizing socioeconomic instability and imbalances, increasing armed conflicts and wars, as well as the challenges of AI automation across all human activity, we are witnessing sometimes subtle and other times ostentatious shifts in institutional arrangements, policy provisions and leadership visions. More often than not, these changes lead to the perpetuation of multiple forms of inequity, as well as new discriminatory mechanisms and (yet) hard-to-identify oppressive practices.
While social work is intertwined with and invariably reflects many of these shifting tendencies, it is also one of the most stable components/systems of societies, rooted in a strong value base which upholds the centrality of social justice ideals leading to the communal greater good, in an effort to promote the strengths rather than the fragility of social structures.
Change at a deeper level across multiple societal structures is not just imminent, but already happening in momentum. The future of social work as a profession partly depends on how well social work research as a foundation for social work action succeeds in articulating these changes into creative conceptualizations and methodologies, driven by the new unfolding realities. While social work has never been static, it is now perhaps more challenged than ever before to rethink and adapt at a fast pace at all levels – education, practice, policy, etc. Under these various tensions and sometimes clashing forces, social work research can play an important role in leading the way forward, ensuring that the silent/low voices are heard and the new order does not neglect its core values.
SUBTHEMES
Challenges and opportunities for social work research, practice, policy or education in contemporary contexts
Social work research, policy, practice or education across national, social, cultural, disciplinary and professional boundaries
Exploring the impact and effectiveness of social work practice
Social work history and identity as a profession and discipline
Theorizing social work and/or social work research
Linking social work research and practice, including the co-creation of knowledge
Methodological development, innovation, technologies and capacity building in social work research
Social work research and automation, technology and AI
Social work leadership