Social work and environmental justice

Students will learn about the areas listed below through different teaching methods and learn how to analyze and critically reflect on each topic:

- Introduction into the development of environmental and ecological perspectives in social work, key theoretical paradigms, and concepts: green social work, ecological social work, ecosocial work, ecofeminist social work, etc.

- Overview of the anthropocentric and Eurocentric embedment of social work, decolonial perspectives in social work.

- The impact of industrialization, urbanization and globalization on environmental injustice and social inequality.

- The impact of pollution and environmental degradation on access to resources and the development of human potential; pollution, health, disability.

- Increasing of environmental inequality and impact on communities and individuals: environmental grief.

- Privatization of natural resources grabbing and its consequences (soil, water, wind, etc.); access to land, seeds, food, energy and self-sustainability; food and energy poverty.

- Impact of climate change and environmental crises on migration, climate refugees.

- Social movements for environmental justice and the role of social work.

- Rural social work: international perspectives and development of the field in Slovenia.

While learning about various topics they will reflect on the role of social work, social work approaches and the possibilities for social intervention through discussion with guest lecturers and other guests, research, and different forms of fieldwork (excursions, field research etc.).