How have three decades of neoliberalism affected the Nordic welfare states as well as the organisation, education and practices of social work in those countries?

During recent decades the welfare states of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have gone through dramatic changes infl uenced by the political triumph of neoliberalism. This has led to both the electoral success of extreme right and mainstream neoliberal parties, and to the neoliberal ideological transformations of social democratic parties. The neoliberal doctrine of making governance cheaper has thus been made the focus of governance and has led to increased marginalisation and social problems.

This is the first book to comparatively explore the role of neoliberal reforms on social work and social policy across the Nordic welfare states. The richly theoretical and empirical chapters explore and illustrate the consequences of the dominance of neoliberal policies and provide an analysis of the effects of globalisation, glocalisation, welfare nationalism, symbolic violence and forced migration. The book provides valuable insights into the shortcomings of retreating welfare states in a time of increasing glocal social problems.

Neoliberalism, Nordic Welfare States and Social Work should be considered essential reading for critical social work education. Students, scholars, educators and researchers of Nordic countries and beyond have much to learn from this book.

About the Author

Masoud Kamali is professor of social work and sociology at Mid Sweden University. His research encompasses questions of social justice, social movements and challenges to social work in a global and late modern world.

Jessica H. Joensson is a senior lecturer at the Department of Social Work, Mid Sweden University. Her research area concerns social work as a globalised and socio-political field facing increasing theoretical and practical challenges caused by socioeconomic, political and cultural transformations.

Reviews

"The book stresses that we, as social work scholars and educators, cannot remain neutral and accepting of the changes that the 'neoliberal turn' has heralded. Indeed, it is crucial that what has become more or less normalised in social work today in the Nordic countries - in practice, policy and discourse - is put in a histori-cal and ideological perspective. Driven by this central argument, the book is a vitally important contribution to social work research and debate."

Stina Fernqvist, Uppsala University, Sweden

For all of us living under the full weight and power of the ideological hegemony of neoliberal capitalism and NPM, and their demoralising and deleterious consequences, this is a must-read book!

Vishanthie Sewpaul: Critical and Radical Social Work: 7:3 2019.

Book Information
ISBN 9780367152154
Author Masoud Kamali
Format Paperback
Page Count 292
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g