Macht in der Sozialen Arbeit: Interaktionsverhältnisse zwischen Kontrolle, Partizipation und Freisetzung

Abstract

This review could carry the title ‘ The many faces of power in social work – what ’ s to be done? ’ This is a textbook for social work students presenting and discussing the multifaceted problem of power by means of various theories and empirical fi ndings. It is not only a plain textbook but has become a standard work in social work and social pedagogical studies. The textbook is challenging as it wres-tles with an issue that exists in human relations – but an issue which at the same time is – allows me an exaggeration – a somehow blind spot in research. It is a truism that social work exerts in fl uence and power in its interactions with respect to its clients and to society, too. As a practice, it maintains a critical attitude towards power, though relations of power are surrounding as well as penetrating social work. Moreover, the relations between professionals and clients are not balanced but uneven concerning power. This is the fi rst challenge when dealing with interactions. As a second challenge, social work is dependent on other social forces, among other things its dependence or embeddedness in political power structures. The third challenge is to re fl ect itself as a societal force aiming at changing society by means of its potential for innovation. Bearing this purpose in mind, the book deals with power shaped by many contributions who on their side draw on a plethora of positions – critical-theoretical, agency-oriented, constructivist, etc. Despite the various perspectives, the basic purpose is to analyse social work as a practice as well as an academic discourse.