The European Research Institute for Social Work (ERIS) Web Journal is produced by a network of Universities in Europe (see Eris website) in order to further knowledge of social work theory, policy and practice for students, academics, and staff and managers and policy makers across Europe. The Journal showcases important areas of theory development, and policy and practice developments which are of interest across our European borders.
This issue contains articles from Peter Erath, Professor for Social Work Theories at the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, and Professor Jan Keller, Department of Social Work, University of Ostrava, as well as two book review by Professor Erath and Prof. Chytil.
The first article, by Professor Erath concerns itself with the state of development of social work in Europe, and whether there can really be a recognisable European Social Work. Taking as its premise that social work in Germany and most other European countries is presently in an acutely delicate state, partly because our national social work systems do not succeed in communicating their productivity satisfactorily, Professor Erath proposes that solutions for this problem are not found by returning to the respective original roots of the systems of social help, and retreating to the idea of the charitable social welfare exclusively based on altruism, for example. Instead, solutions can only be found by the development of professionalization, developing social work academically, and thereby widening the horizon of social work across the borders of the European countries. Only if such an extensive change takes place, amidst discussion of different European mindsets, debates and practices, will it be possible to achieve a broad consolidation and development of social work in general and in particular in Germany.
Following on in this theme, the second article by Jan Keller e provides a critical appraisal of the relationship between private capital and the social services in the public sector, by examining four different models of types of Welfare State in Europe, within what can be referred to as the "trap of the Conservative model". This model justifies State plans to curtail the welfare state by claiming that the extensiveness of social expenditures is the main cause behind the increasing debts of states, and therefore, claiming that a radical reduction of social expenditures is required. The article sets out the argument that it is not necessarily social expenditure that leads to indebtedness, and provides evidence of this from comparisons of the USA, UK, and other European Countries.
Professor Brian Littlechild
Chair. ERIS Web Journal Board