Geschichte der Sozialen Arbeit

The history of social work can be presented as a linear narrative of success. However, this ignores contradictions and circular developments. This textbook assumes that no consistent story can be told for social work as a whole. Therefore, contradictory developments are highlighted in relation to categories of social inequalities. Constellations of being involved are presented as well as the tensions of solidarization, complicity, (not)seeing and (not)recognizing. Developments of professionalization, institutionalization and organizations of social work are reconstructed in their ambivalences for practice. The textbook is intended to stimulate the understanding of social work as an (un)possible profession that is necessary in difficult circumstances.