Abstrakt
Social work is by its nature a boundary-crossing profession and discipline and the development of European cross-border projects, in which Friesenhahn was instrumental, strengthened its theory and practice basis enormously. The stagnation of the European integration project which started well before the Corona crisis, is essential attributable to the failure of the EU to invest decisively in the social integration of Europe and the strengthening of solidarity in and across nation states.
The experience of the crisis shows up these weaknesses radically and future developments of Europe as a cohesive unit will very much depend on the states' ability to give priority to social cohesion and to overcoming social divisions, deepened by the crisis. The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of core social work principles in crisis situations: the significance of personal social relations, the linking between individual autonomy and equality, the centrality of intercultural and anti-discriminatory competences.
This chapter will chart a way forward for social work and for Europe using the principles that guide this profession at both the inter-personal and the political level.