About
socialnet International is an academic and professional community with contributors from all over the world. We focus on social developments in the context of the social economy, social work and social justice.
We are observing the current political developments worldwide with growing concern. These developments are already leading to isolationist and autocratic tendencies that contribute to the disintegration, isolation and dissolution of established, reliable international institutions and structures.
At the same time, and related to this, there is a dismantling of social policy programmes and deep cuts in monetary support in national welfare systems and inclusion programmes (care services, support for mothers, children and young people, pension entitlements, etc.).
Important Dates
Conference Schedule
Keynote I
Social work as a human rights profession under political pressure
Prof.in Dr. Andrea Schmelz is Professor of International Social Work and Global Development at Coburg University
- Co-spokesperson for the “International Social Work” section of the German Society for Social Work (DGSA)
- Teaching and research areas include
International social work and global development
Transformation, crisis, and disaster research
Historical and political foundations of international social work
Session 1: Country Statements
Social policy transformations (6-minute pitches followed by discussion)
Country Pitches from Denmark, Georgia and Hungary, South Africa; USA, India and Mexiko requested.
Georgia
Professor Shorena Sadzaglishvili
Georgia, Ilia State University
From Politics to Practice: Social Work in Transitional Societies
Denmark
Jørn Henrik Enevoldsen, Cand. Scient. Pol., retired professor from University College South Denmark
Anette Nielsen, Social Work MSI, retired professor from University College South Denmark
Senior Citizens and the Welfare State
South Africa
Prof. Dr. Kefilwe Ditlhake
University of Johannesburg
Title will be updated
Hungary
Ass. Prof. Dr. Zoltán Háberman, Jewish Theological Seminary - University of Jewis Studies Budapest, SoFRiED researcher
Illiberalism in Hungary and Its Influence on Social Welfare
Keynote II
Authoritarian influences in social work in Germany - empirical evidences of far-right influences in Mecklenburg-Western-Pomerania (partial results of a three-country study)
Prof.in Dr. Júlia Wéber is Professor for migration society and civic education at Hochschule Neubrandenburg
Internationalisation representative of Department of Social Work and Education
- Migration and the German migration society - theoretical debates, empirical fundings
- Democracy pedaogy/civic education
- Dealing with racism, right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism
- Remembrance work, with a focus on learning from history of national socialism and participatory reappraisal of MfS injustice in the GDR today with contemporary witnesses
- Education and social inequalitites
- International Social Work
Session 2: Concrete Example
Katalin Szoboszlai - Andrea Rácz: in social work under the influence of illiberal politics - Focus on homeless care and child protection
Katalin Szoboszlai - Andrea Rácz: Challenges in social work education in Hungary
Concluding Discussion
Democratic responses and strategies (moderated discourse)
Call for Pitches
We are inviting short country-specific pitches to highlight the concrete effects of authoritarian transformations, make their consequences visible, and develop ideas and projects that can counteract them.
Pitch Requirements
- Duration: Maximum 6 minutes
- Slides: Maximum 3 content slides + 1 slide with contact details
- Topics: Country statements on social policy transformations OR concrete examples from social projects
- Submission Deadline: 25th November 2025
Focus Areas
- Cuts in healthcare and social support services
- Review and revocation of charitable status of NGOs and NPOs
- Dissolution of international aid organizations
- Political persecution of social work organizations
- Impact on disadvantaged groups and minorities
- Democratic responses and resistance strategies
Registration
Register now to participate in the socialnet International Conference. Registration is free of charge.
Contact & Submissions
For pitch submissions or any questions regarding the conference, please contact the editorial team at socialnet International:
Doris Scheer & Volker Brinkmann
international@socialnet.de
About socialnet International
socialnet International is a platform for academic and professional exchange on social developments in the context of the social economy, social work, and social justice. We bring together contributors from around the world through:
- Country reports on social policy developments
- Academic articles on current social issues
- Expert podcasts and interviews
- International networking opportunities
Our mission is to foster critical discourse on societal questions and promote democratic values in social work and social policy worldwide.