Neoliberalism and social work in South Africa

This article deals with the consequences of neoliberalism for social work education and practice, and proposes alternatives based on radical theories and on lessons from the Arab spring and the international Occupy Movement. While grass roots involvement and development are important, the enormous consequences of neoliberalism means that single small-scale community-based initiatives are, in themselves, insufficient to challenge the power of corporate capital, centralised authoritarian governments and the international financial institutions. The problems of local communities in contemporary society are almost always located beyond their borders. Effecting change will therefore depend on our ability to mobilise people on large scales, to build alliances and bridges across similarities and differences, to network across borders, and on joining and supporting global social movements that work toward greater social justice, deepened democracies, solidarity and respect for human dignity.