Even today, some 20 years after Slovenia gained its independence and established its own state, the relationship between the state and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) in Slovenia is defined in the same way as it was in the former socialist regime: from the top downwards, without public debate and with obsolete logic. During the final decades of socialism, the »dialogue« between religious and non-religious parts of the population was only reserved for political and religious functionaries, and reduced to monopolistic interests of two hierarchical organisations – the former Communist Party and the Roman Catholic Church – which self-understandingly shared their power over the souls of the citizens. Thus, according to this persisting ideology, all social interests are represented solely by the representatives of political parties and all believers are represented solely by the functionaries of the RCC. Compared (analyzed here) policy of the state towards religion and the attitude of the Slovenian state to social policy, is important, surprising and understated analogy, that may become clear only at the escalation of social conflicts in these areas.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4252261
Immigrant detention means administrative imprisonment without the normal due process safeguards commonly demanded in liberal democracies. Its consequences are separated families and broken individuals. Social work is seen as a profession developing ethical considerations and arguments to advocate for the right to belong to an organized political community, the right to social security, and the right to personal liberties being applicable to all people, regardless of their immigration status.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4244325
Social work is seen as a profession developing ethical considerations and arguments to advocate for the right to belong to an organized political community, the right to social security and the right to personal liberties as applicable to all people, regardless of their immigration status. Immigration control is thus seen as a source of unjust policies and practices. Those who find themselves undocumented are supposed to remain invisible and without claims on state or society. The article considers some examples of collective mobilizations, empowerment and political subjectivization of non-citizens and the ways in which activism can challenge the notions of belonging, citizenship and access to social rights. When resisting, people create networks of solidarity and invent new ways of belonging. This could be seen as ‘regularisation from below’: the growing autonomy of the city (as opposed to state definitions of belonging) and de-illegalization at the micro level (at the city level, access to municipal social services, rights with employers etc.)
COBISS.SI-ID: 4204389
The scientific article is the introductory article for the volume on the rights of persons with disabilities and the development of disability studies across East Europe and South East Asia. People with disabilities are, in most parts of the world, still seen as an exception to the rule, and as a deviance from the “normal.” Nevertheless, certain recent global developments demonstrate positive changes in the ways people with disabilities are treated by professional helpers, including social workers, and the lay public. But the differences in the quality of life of persons with disabilities across the world remain huge. The article shows some of them and the different developments of the disability studies.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4244581
The article which was widely discussed in the Easter European region shows how social work and welfare services in the region are deeply imbedded in the social history of the countries. The professional responses of the three welfare players, the state, non-governmental organisations and faith-based welfare services are determined by economic hardship of the majority of populations in the countries of south east and eastern Europe. Economic instability and insecurity are experienced also by social workers and the precarious work conditions influence their professionalism and active engagement at the work place. Social workers from state social services instrumentalised by the needs of the governments are driven by the pragmatic idea of delivering welfare assistance money for those in need with often limited engagement and even more limited resources.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4202341