Premium
Ecosocial innovations enabling social work to promote new forms of sustainable economy
Author(s) -
Matthies AilaLeena,
Peeters Jef,
Hirvilammi Tuuli,
Stamm Ingo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/ijsw.12423
Subject(s) - cognitive reframing , grassroots , sustainability , diversity (politics) , social sustainability , work (physics) , sociology , economic system , political science , economic growth , economics , ecology , engineering , psychology , social psychology , politics , anthropology , law , biology , mechanical engineering
Social work research and practice that address environmental sustainability have already become prominent. However, a change in unsustainable economic structures is also urgently needed. This study explored emerging opportunities in theory and practice for a sustainable economy that are relevant to the aims of social work. As practical examples, our study concerns ‘ecosocial innovations’, i.e., social innovations that combine ecological and social goals. We analysed how these grassroots innovations in the field of social work reflect crucial shared conceptions of alternative economies. The qualitative data set comprised of 50 ecosocial innovations and six case studies in five European countries. The findings show a rich diversity of ecosocial innovations and describe how they reframe economic purposes, value economic diversity and democratise the economy. We suggest that social work might consider these practices as opportunities for collaboration, especially regarding work with people on the margins of the labour market.