Impact of Neoliberalism on Social Work Practice

Running head: MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Name of the Student
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1MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Identification of key contemporary Neo-liberalist concepts......................................................2
Discussion and Analysis of Changes to Social Work Practice Influenced By Neo-Liberalism 4
Critical reflection on personal challenges neo-liberalist ideas may present to the developing
professional practice framework................................................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
Reference....................................................................................................................................8

2MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Introduction
Since ancient ages men have engaged in philosophical and political discourses.
Liberalism and Marxism are the two most popular political ideologies of today’s times. The
classical Liberalism and Marxism again had gone through various levels of modifications and
transformations and gave birth to concepts of Neoliberalism and Neo Marxism. The classical
liberalism had mostly given emphasis on the idea of individual freedom and economic rights,
however, basic ideas of neo liberal thoughts consists of the economic grounds where laissez
faire economics have been given maximum importance (Spolander, Engelbrecht & Pullen
Sansfaçon, 2016). This means that neo liberal political stands on the ground of free market
economy and the rights of the people to old their property, conduct business and earn profit
out of their economic activities (Gray et al., 2015). Neo liberal ideas are essentially
important for the researchers in the field of economics and economic sociology.
Identification of key contemporary Neo-liberalist concepts
The term Neoliberalism means a new form of liberalism. The idea of classical
liberalism was there in the ancient Roman and Greek thoughts. John Locke may be termed as
the person who was the first person who initiated the idea of liberalism as in his works he
started describing the principles and ideas of liberal movement where the individuals were
given maximum rights (Hill & Kumar, 2012).
Increasing of Trade
The right to owning private property and earning profits started from this time.
Therefore people could take part in trade and commerce activities as much as they liked. This
naturally increased the trade of the whole region. As economically borders opened it also
helped in easier means of conducting trade activities. The system aimed at creating a social
justice system based on economic equality and the right of everyone to participate equally in