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.).
Conference Summary
Key Findings
Across all contributions, the following cross-cutting patterns emerged:
- Authoritarian transformations are globally widespread, though context-specific
- Social work increasingly functions as a crisis buffer
- Professional standards are under structural pressure
- Vulnerable groups are particularly affected
- Human rights and democratic values are questioned in everyday practice
Key responses identified: international networking, strengthening professional ethics, protecting social infrastructure, and active political positioning of social work.
International spaces of discourse play a central role in this process.
Conclusion
The socialnet International Conference demonstrated that authoritarian transformations in social policy and social work constitute a global phenomenon. The profession faces similar challenges worldwide, though under different conditions.
The conference made an important contribution to international discurse, comparison, and the development of shared strategies. It underscores the need for sustained international dialogue in order to strengthen democratic welfare states and professional social work.
Conference Paper
Authoritarian Transformations in Social Policy and Social Work – Global Perspectives
socialnet International Conference 2025 · deutsch / english
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Press Release
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
Zimbabwe
Tatenda Nhapi
Title will be updated
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
Prof. Dr. Katalin Szoboszlai (3SZ, Union of the Social Professional Organisations)
Prof. Dr. Andrea Rácz (ELTE – Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest):
in social work under the influence of illiberal politics - Focus on homeless care and child protection
Prof. Dr. Katalin Szoboszlai (3SZ, Union of the Social Professional Organisations)
Prof. Dr. Andrea Rácz (ELTE – Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest):
Challenges in social work education in Hungary
Concluding Discussion
Democratic responses and strategies (moderated discourse)
Social policy – Global transformations between welfare cuts and decree politics
Prof. Dr. Volker Brinkmann, socialnet International
Contact
For 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.