Social workers' reflections on implications of neoliberal tenets for social work in South African non-governmental organisations

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social work can be said to be a contentious profession, one that is deeply swayed by the socioeconomic and political forces that surround it. These forces can often challenge the profession's commitment to social justice. Neoliberalism, much more than simply an economic theory, has been a dominant force in the global world since its emergence at the political forefront in the 1970s. Disseminated through the global market and organisational bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, neoliberal theory has infiltrated much of societal functioning, including the realm of social welfare and service rendering. The adverse impact of neoliberalism has been widely recognised and debated, linking its influence to the widening gulf between the rich and the poor and the prioritisation of economic means over and above human dignity and rights. Although the impact of neoliberalism has been critiqued and discussed within the field of social work, this has largely been limited to academic circles, and less consideration has been given to the views and experiences of frontline social workers regarding the impact of the neoliberal narrative on their practice. Furthermore, this impact is often subtle and discrete, emerging through various strands of influence or principles of commitment referred to as neoliberal tenets, and thus requires more critical and robust reflections to both recognise and understand how the broader neoliberal conception is at play in social work.South Africa has not escaped this global neoliberal hegemonic march, and through the contracting of a 1993 IMF loan, quickly saw its redistributive commitments compromised by market-driven expectations. The South African social work profession, it itself in the early stages of rebirth post the demise of apartheid, has been significantly affected by such neoliberal tenets, within the spectrum of managerialisation, marketisation, deprofessionalisation and consumerisation. These challenges are particularly evident within the non-governmental organisation context, in which social work services dominate.The aim of this study was to explore the implications of neoliberal tenets, such as those identified above, for NGOs in South Africa, as perceived, experienced and reflected upon by frontline social workers and social work managers. Toward this end, the research objectives included the conceptualisation of neoliberalism as a global economic philosophy; the conceptualisation of the global impact of neoliberalism on social work; the critical analysis of the influence of identified global neoliberal tenets on South African NGOs; the empirical investigation of the perceived implications of neoliberal tenets for social work in NGOs through the reflections of frontline social workers and social work managers; and the presentation of conclusions and recommendations for NGOs regarding the management of perceived neoliberal tenets and its implications for social work. These objectives also represent the chapter layout of the study. The research was ontologically cemented in the interpretivist paradigm, focused on understanding narrative, dialogue and meaning; it was an exploratory and descriptive study, within a purposive sample selection of five NGO case studies and a population of 24 frontline social workers and social work managers. The primary research instrument within the case study framework was the semi-structured interview schedule, which was developed based on themes emerging from literature. Qualitative data was analysed through a reliance on such theoretical propositions, logic models, cross-case synthesis and pattern matching.The resultant empirical analysis explores the narrative of social workers when reflecting on the identified and/or suggested neoliberal implications within their practice. Identified neoliberal tenets at work include the growing expectation for social services and NGOs to rely less on government support and funding, and to function more as private operations; the development of a dominant welfare discourse which promotes self-reliance, and individuals, families and communities taking responsibility for their own wellbeing; employing efficiency and cost-effectiveness as a yardstick, with a preoccupation with procedures, norms and standards; and the deprofessionalisation and diminishing of social workers' professional identity. Through reflections and explorations of these tenets in practice, the deep challenges, needs and successes of the South African NGO and social worker are presented in a manner that is unique in its perspective. At the heart of the study is a warning; a cautioning to the profession to be aware of the often hidden neoliberal impacts and to stand its ground in an increasingly volatile neoliberal world.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University