Ecosocial Transition of Societies

Aila-Leena Matthies is Professor of Social Work at the University of Jyväskylä, Kokkola University Consortium. She has been publishing about the ecosocial perspective of social work in Finnish, German and English since the late 1980s. Kati Närhi is Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Her main research interests are ecosocial approach in social work, ecosocial transition, community social work, structural social work, participation and user involvement.

This book addresses the most important issues for social work as a profession in transition during a time of vast environmental challenges. Chapters range from policy and conceptualisation through to practice that focuses on sustainability, activism and food politics. This is the new face of social work, and it’s wonderful to see a contribution that incorporates contributions from so many parts of the globe. - Adjunct Professor Jennifer McKinnon, Charles Sturt University, Australia.

• Introduction1. It is the Time for Social Work and Social Policy Research on the Ecosocial Transition Part 1: Concepts2. The Conceptualisation of Ecosocial Transition 3. The Relational Conception of Wellbeing 4. Community Based Economy and Ecosocial Transition 5. Thinking about Commons – A Post-capitalist Perspective for Social Work Part 2: Tackling Challenges and Complexities6. Ecosocial Work – Reflections from the Global South 7. Scopes for Adivasi-centred Ecosocial Work in an Indian Mining Region? 8. Instrumentalism and Environmental Justice: People’s Cooperative Renewable Energy in Mauritius Part 3: Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles9. An Ecosocial Model for the Sustainability of Vulnerable Communities 10. Social Work and Eco Activism: From Seed Bombs to Community Gardens, Bike Lanes to Sustainable Urbanism 11. Local Welfare Systems in Rural Finland as a Representation of Sustainable Development 12. Ecosocial Transitions – Exploring the Wisdom of Our Elders 13. Promoting Ecosocial Transition through Permaculture: A Practice Tool for Social Work Part 4: Food Politics14. Nordic Welfare Universalism, Charity Food Aid and Environmental Ethics 15. Farm to Table – Promoting Nutritious and Affordable Food in a State with Varied Cultural Traditions and Scarce Water 16. Food Poverty between Charity and the Human Right to Food: The Case of Urban Gardens in Slovenia Part 5: Profession in Change17. The Role of Social Workers in a Time of Ecological Crisis 18. Transforming the Profession – Social Workers’ Expanding Response to the Environmental Crisis 19. The Changing Understanding of the ‘Person in Environment’ in Social Work Practice Conclusion20. The Contribution of Social Work and Social Policy in Ecosocial Transition of Society