Neoliberalism and the Entrepreneurial Subject (original) (raw)
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The Neoliberal Ideology, Its Contradictions, the Consequences and Challenges for Social Work
Annual of Social Work, 2018
The article shows the influence of neoliberalism on social work and tries to give answers following the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) Code of Ethics (4.2.4 social justice-Challenging unjust policies and practices). Neoliberalism can be described as an economic-political project of capitalist elites which involves the following: economization of all areas of life, privatization, economic globalization and deregulation. The article will give a short historical overview of the development of neoliberalism, the myths and tenets of the new neoliberal ideology and the »manufacturing of consent« (Herman and Chomsky, 1994). Additionally, the article will describe the consequences for social policy and social work, which include the reduction of the welfare state and a development that can be outlined with the following key terms: economization of social work, work-fare instead of welfare. Finally the article will describe the reaction of social work on this development. Some necessary anti-strategies will also be discussed.
Knowing Where You Stand: Neoliberal and Other Foundations for Social Work
The neoliberal philosophy that presently dominates social work in America is often accepted by social workers without question; and when it does come into focus, it is commonly treated as the only perspective that could make sense or be ethical. But in fact every philosophy, including neoliberalism, sometimes calls for tough judgments and requires unpleasant commitments. Many social workers may find that an eclectic and dispassionate – but informed – approach works best in practice. This article provides thumbnail sketches and cross-comparisons among some of the most commonly mentioned political philosophies, so as to help social workers interpret dialogues, understand clients’ views, and identify potentially divergent threads in their own political orientations.
The social work voice – doxa and dissent in neoliberal times (editorial)
2016
Welcome to this special issue of the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal. The theme for this edition is Child protection, the family and the state: critical responses in neoliberal times. Neoliberalism is becoming a ubiquitous word; aptly described as overused and over stretched (Gray et al., 2015) and employed “usually by a certain kind of critic, to characterise everything from a particular brand of free-market political philosophy and a wide variety of innovations in public management to patterns and processes found in and across diverse political spaces and territories” (Dean, 2014, p.150). Neoliberalism as a term does however capture the essence of some pernicious directions in family policy, both here and globally. In this special issue, we use it to refer to several key themes that increasingly frame the relationship of the state to the family in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There recently has been an avalanche of critiques of the way in which feminism has gone to bed with neoliberal capitalism and become an instrument of governmentality. In this paper, I look at these phenomena as processes of a ‘neoliberalisation of feminism'. I illustrate such neoliberalisation by introducing women's empowerment projects run by transnational consumer products companies, typically in partnership with public development actors. Under the label of ‘corporate social responsibility', these companies invest in women in their supply and marketing chains, seeking to empower them within a neoliberal rationality of government. The paper is an effort to go beyond the critiques of feminism as co-opted. Rather than inventing new feminisms or taking a break from feminism – as some have suggested, I propose that it is more fruitful and necessary to examine, in concrete contexts, the way in which select feminist movement ideas are being integrated into neoliberal rationales and logics, what is lost in the process and what is perhaps gained.
Routledge eBooks, 2021
Neoliberalism is a diffuse and contested term; however, as an art of government, drawing on Foucault's theorising, it posits personal responsibility as the basis of an ethical society. Neoliberalism mostly governs individuals through their freedom, where the concept of freedom presupposes a rational self that is motivated to improve and secure their life now and in the future. For those who are unable or unwilling to participate in securing a decent lifestyle within the norms of society, systematic modifications including social welfare policies that are punitive and freedom-depriving are used to attempt to modify individuals' behaviour. Direct social work practice with individuals also relies on individual autonomy as one of its central technologies guiding individuals towards choices that will improve their lives. Social work practitioners are seen to be part of an enabling network that assists individuals who are considered self-excluded due to their irresponsible choices to work on themselves to form an 'entrepreneurial self'. Social workers engage in the neoliberal art of governance through the 'conduct of conduct' of self and others in their direct practice with people. If individuals are understood as constituted through networks of power relations, then direct social work using a pastoral relationship can be a node of power where understanding of whom they are 'made to be' can enable engaging in individual and collective resistance to some of the perversions of neoliberal governance. Through pastoral care, resistance as both 'conduct of conduct' and 'counter conduct' is possible and necessary. ABSTRAKT Neoliberalism ist ein diffus und bestrittener Begriff, aber als art und weise der regierung, genohmen von Foucault's theroretisieren, setzt es die persoenliche verantwortung als den Grund einer ethischer Gesellschaft. Neoliberalism meistens reguliert durch die Freiheit jedem Einzelnen. Der Begriff von deiser Freiheit nimmt als selbstverståndlich ein vernünftiges Selbst. Ein Selbst das motiviert ist sich zu verbessern und das sein Leben sicher machen will, heute und auch in der Zukunft. Für diejenigen wo nicht mitmachen kønnen oder die nicht bereit sind eine Anståndigkeit zu sichern innerhalb der Normen der Gesellschaft, gibt es systematische Ånderungen, einschließlich von Sozialhilfe Richtlinien, die beide Bestrafung
Reclaiming Feminism: Gender and Neoliberalism
Even the most devoted believers in the neoliberal paradigm will have had their convictions shaken in recent times, as the world's markets have played havoc with their faith. For those who have long questioned the purported benefits of neoliberal economic policies and highlighted their injurious consequences, it comes as little surprise that this 'grab-bag of ideas based on the fundamentalist notion that markets are selfcorrecting, allocate resources efficiently and serve the public interest well', as Stiglitz (2008) well describes neoliberalism, is in freefall. The focus of this IDS Bulletin is therefore particularly apposite at a time when much-cherished axioms are being re-inspected and where new possibilities and directions are so badly needed.
Does equality have a future? Feminism and social democracy in the era of neoliberalism
Does the embrace of the market by social democratic parties leave room for the equality project? Equality was once a central plank of social democratic platforms – the social democratic state was needed to counterbalance market inequalities and ensure decent working conditions and wages. Social liberalism added a greater sensitivity to gender inequalities, particularly as an argument for non-contributory old-age pensions. From the 1980s the adoption of market discourse by social democratic parties seemed to leave less room for non-market-based equality principles. Equal opportunity for women was now included in platforms, but with little recognition of its underlying implications. In Australia Labor governments promoted decentralised wage bargaining, occupational superannuation, and competition policy, despite their effects on gender equality. Part of the problem has been absorption of market discourse to the point where sometimes it seems forgotten that markets produce inequality, not equal opportunity. Public provision itself is often justified through market rather than equality arguments – childcare enables greater labour market participation, domestic violence results in excessive economic costs. This paper explores in what ways feminism can assist social democracy to present a real alternative to market discourse.
Social work and macro-economic neoliberalism: beyond the social justice rhetoric
European Journal of Social Work, 2015
Macroeconomic policy shapes and structures social welfare policy, services, and their implementation. As a result, the commoditisation of social welfare services and the use of markets as well as private sector management philosophies and tools have colonised and fashioned the design, provision and implementation of social welfare policy and structures. The impact has been far reaching, from limiting social welfare responses of elected democratic government to shaping the profession in a range of intended and unintended directions. Written from a UK perspective, this paper proposes a discussion of the impact of macroeconomic neoliberal policies in the field of social welfare and explores the implications for social work practice. The paper also promotes a debate within the profession regarding the importance of macroeconomic analysis and possible responses, as well as suggesting a way forward within European and, more broadly, international practice contexts.