Right-wing Populism and Social Work: Contrasting Ambivalences About Modernity

Right-wing populism has become a major feature of the politics of many Western countries, and poses particular challenges for social work. This paper explores the contradictory relationships of both social work and right-wing populism to Enlightenment Modernity. Each embraces some elements of modern...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of human rights and social work 2018-09, Vol.3 (3), p.121-127
Main Author: Ife, Jim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Empowerment
Globalization
Human Rights
Liberalism
Modernity
Neoliberalism
Populism
Psychotherapy and Counseling
Right wing politics
Social justice
Social Policy
Social Sciences
Social values
Social Work
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Summary:Right-wing populism has become a major feature of the politics of many Western countries, and poses particular challenges for social work. This paper explores the contradictory relationships of both social work and right-wing populism to Enlightenment Modernity. Each embraces some elements of modernity but retreats from others. This analysis suggests that apparent commonalities—rejection of globalisation, empowerment rhetoric and opposition to neo-liberalism—are more apparent than real. On this basis, the paper argues that attempts by social work either to dialogue with or to accommodate the right-wing populist agenda are both futile and dangerous. Rather, it is important for social work not only to take a strong stand against neo-liberalism, but to also to articulate significant alternatives to the right-wing populist dystopia, and engage in principled activism, based on the values of social justice and human rights, and to work towards the realisation of such alternatives at community level.
ISSN:2365-1792
2365-1792
DOI:10.1007/s41134-018-0064-5