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Social work in a superdiverse society: a conceptual exploration of cooperation in professional practice

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 03:56 authored by Ilse Julkunen, Gillian RuchGillian Ruch, Anna Nurmi
Superdiversity is a rapidly expanding social phenomenon with major implications for social work practice. In this paper, we outline the key characteristics of superdiversity as it is currently understood and explore its implications for social work practice. Drawing on the seminal work of Richard Sennett we consider how his conceptual ideas about cooperation, as a vehicle for embracing difference through dialogue, can be translated into everyday social work practice in contexts of superdiversity. Empirical research into contemporary social work practice with urban migrant communities provides rich illustrations of the intricacies of social workers’ cooperative mindsets and skillsets and their capacity to respond to the challenges that superdiversity poses to professional practice. This paper considers the affordances of this conceptual approach for social work and superdiversity and closes with an affirmative rallying call to cooperative action and a re-conceptualisation of cooperation based on embracing difference.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

European Journal of Social Work

ISSN

1369-1457

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Page range

1-14

Department affiliated with

  • Social Work and Social Care Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-06-16

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-06-16

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-06-16

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