GLOBAL RISKS AS CHALLENGES TO MODERN SOCIAL WORK

Abstract

The end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first century was called the «society of risk» in socio-philosophical research. German social philosopher W. Beck proposed to call this period so. He stressed that the number of risks has increased, and their severity has increased sharply in our time. Moreover, in the context of globalization, social systemic risks go beyond certain regions and countries and become global.

These risks have a significant impact on modern social work, as they require a rapid response to social problems, difficult life situations, as well as require new approaches to solving these problems. Therefore, the article analyzes the main approaches to the idea of «welfare society», which from the 40s - 50s of the twentieth century to the present day has undergone transformation and criticism.

The article presents the connection between the idea of a «welfare society» and the idea of social citizenship. The latter emphasizes the importance of non-discrimination of certain members of society due to the narrowing of their rights and opportunities due to the fact that they need help.

The outlined problems are directly related to social work, as modern social transformations are happening rapidly. Clients of social work, social workers do not keep up with changes in the social sphere. The challenge is to provide the best customer support based on effective strategies and methods of assistance. Whatever the social conditions, social workers need to balance care and control in working with service users, promote empowerment and protect clients, provide support and carry out observations. Social workers face individual and social tensions and risks, working on changes in the individual and society, working on specific cases and carrying out preventive work.

Therefore, in 2015, the American Academy of Social Work and Welfare identified the so-called «Great Challenges to Social Work» - key issues that require a rapid response to mitigate their negative impact on people's lives, well-being and social security. Such challenges include: ensuring the healthy development of young people, closing gaps in health care, combating domestic violence, increasing life expectancy and productivity, eradicating social exclusion, addressing homelessness, to changes in the environment, use of technologies for social welfare, the promotion of reasonable imprisonment, reduction of extreme economic inequality, the provision of equal financial opportunities for all, the achievement of equal opportunities and justice.

In 2021, the «Great Challenges to Social Work” was supplemented by another - the elimination of racism. The risks have deepened and require more flexibility for social workers to provide assistance in the event of a COVID-19 pandemic.

The conclusions indicate that in the conditions of rapid transformation of society, social workers are faced with the task of providing the most effective assistance and support to their clients, paying attention to social change. Therefore, the risks of the modern world directly affect the specifics, forms and methods of social work at the beginning of the XXI century.