The 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.

Introduction

1. It is the Time for Social Work and Social Policy Research on the Ecosocial Transition

Part 1: Concepts

2. 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 Complexities

6. 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 Lifestyles

9. 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 Politics

14. 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 Change

17. 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

Conclusion

20. The Contribution of Social Work and Social Policy in Ecosocial Transition of Society