Mapping Resistance to Neoliberalism in Social Work and Human Services: A Scoping Review

Background and Purpose

Neoliberalism has had a profound impact on social work and human services, with many scholars highlighting its negative effects on workers and vulnerable populations. While there is a growing body of literature on neoliberalism in social work, comparatively little attention has been given to the question of resistance. A lack of robust discussion on resistance may contribute to a sense of hopelessness and belief in the inevitability of neoliberalism. The purpose of this scoping review is to map how resistance to neoliberalism is conceptualized and practiced in social work and human services.

Methods

We followed a scoping review methodology developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and identified peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2022 that addressed the topic of resistance to neoliberalism in social work and human services. We searched Social Service Abstracts, Social Science Citation Index, Social Work Abstracts, and PsycINFO using the search terms “resist* AND neoliberal*.” The terms were searched as key words and subject headings. Inclusion criteria consisted of: a primary focus on social work and/or human services, significant discussion of neoliberalism and resistance, and publication in English. Our search resulted in 53 articles, which we charted, collated, and thematically analyzed using an iterative team approach.

Results

Conceptualizations of resistance are often related to varying conceptualizations of neoliberalism. Resistance was mainly defined implicitly as actions that counteract manifestations of neoliberalism, with few explicit definitions provided. Activities of resistance took many forms, occurring at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. A diverse range of actors, including service users, activists, and professional social workers and human service providers, engaged in resistance at individual, organizational, and community levels. At the individual level, resistance took on subtle forms such as building alternative practices and discourses that prioritize social justice and equity over market-driven values. At the organizational and community level, resistance took on more overt forms such as participation in social movements and policy advocacy. Finally, many articles emphasized the role of ideology and discourse in shaping resistance.

Conclusions and Implications

Resistance to neoliberalism in social work and human services is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Like neoliberalism itself, resistance operates on micro and macro scales, takes subtle and overt forms, and accounts for discursive and material realities. Our findings have clear implications for furthering resistance. At the practice level, workers may emphasize individual or collective opposition to institutional or social policies, assist clients and communities in their resistance to oppression, and challenge hegemonies and dominant professional and societal discourses. At the educational level, students can be provided with the values, knowledge, awareness, and skills to identify, support, and motivate resistance. At the research level, future studies should illuminate factors that inhibit and facilitate resistance, and evaluate the impact of resistance on worker, client, and community well-being. By identifying key characteristics of resistance, this review can inform strategies for resisting the forces of neoliberalism and contribute to more explicit and comprehensive theorization of resistance in social work and human services.