Social Work & Society

Social work has never been an innocent profession. And, of course, also research cannot simply escape the prevailing social conditions. Therefore, struggling in and with the contradictions of enabling people and act as a public service at the same time is inscribed in the self-image of professional social services, like social work and social pedagogy. And it also forms the starting point for systematic reflections in social work research. As fundamental as this insight is, as easy can somebody lose sight of it. This has to do not least with the fact that contradictions always take on a concrete historical form, and so they can take on a different shape at different times. But not only that. To deal with concrete contradictions, and thus with the existing social conditions such as class or gender differences, ethnic attributions or post-colonial influences, political and cultural prerequisites are needed. We are currently experiencing this in the face of anti-democratic and chauvinistic government takeovers worldwide, in which, for example, the previous recognition of different ways of life is being withdrawn. In this respect, the historical struggle for social rights and democratic participation for all people, which has led to the establishment of welfare states since the 19th century, must be waged again today in a new form.

In this context we are therefore very pleased Lars Alberth, Ellen Kollender, Anke Karber, Philipp Sandermann & Birte Siem (all Lüneburg/GER) have been responsible for the current SW&S.Special Issue on “Deconstructing and Reconstructing Diversity in Client-Provider-Relationships of Social Work”. The contributions they have compiled discuss the requirements for a professional debate on the specific issue of diversity.

In the hope that our readers will find intellectually and professionally stimulating contributions in this issue, we remain

SW&S.Co-Ordinating Office