Navigating Neoliberalism: How Social Work Can Embrace Critical Sociology

Nico Varela in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the crucial role of critical sociology in social work, challenging traditional approaches and empowering practitioners to tackle systemic inequalities."

In today's rapidly changing social landscape, social work professionals face complex challenges that demand innovative and critical approaches. Traditional methods often fall short in addressing the systemic inequalities perpetuated by neoliberal policies.

This article delves into the essential role of critical sociology in empowering social workers to navigate these challenges effectively. By understanding the theoretical underpinnings of critical sociology, practitioners can better analyze and address the root causes of social issues.

We will explore how embracing a critical perspective can transform social work practice, enabling professionals to challenge the status quo and advocate for meaningful social change. This exploration includes examining the work of key thinkers like Loïc Wacquant and practical strategies for incorporating critical sociology into everyday practice.

What is Critical Sociology and Why Does It Matter for Social Work?

A surreal illustration of a social worker bridging traditional and critical sociology.

Critical sociology is a perspective that challenges traditional sociological approaches by emphasizing the importance of power, inequality, and social justice. It seeks to uncover the underlying structures and systems that perpetuate social problems, rather than simply addressing their symptoms.

For social work, critical sociology provides a powerful lens through which to examine the impact of neoliberalism and other systemic forces on vulnerable populations. Neoliberalism, characterized by deregulation, privatization, and austerity measures, often exacerbates social inequalities and creates new challenges for social workers.

Challenging Power Structures: Critical sociology helps social workers identify and challenge the power structures that contribute to social inequality.
Addressing Systemic Issues: It moves beyond individual-level interventions to address the root causes of social problems.
Promoting Social Justice: By advocating for policy changes and systemic reforms, critical sociology supports social justice.
Empowering Clients: It encourages social workers to empower their clients by helping them understand and navigate the social forces that affect their lives.

By integrating critical sociology into their practice, social workers can become more effective advocates for their clients and agents of social change. This approach encourages a shift from simply managing the consequences of social problems to actively working to transform the systems that create them.

Moving Forward: Embracing Critical Sociology in Social Work Practice

Incorporating critical sociology into social work practice requires a commitment to ongoing learning, reflection, and action. Social workers must be willing to challenge their own assumptions, engage in critical self-reflection, and seek out new knowledge and perspectives. It also involves advocating for policy changes and systemic reforms that promote social justice and equity. By embracing critical sociology, social workers can play a vital role in creating a more just and equitable society for all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What is Critical Sociology, and how does it differ from traditional sociological approaches?

Critical Sociology is a perspective that challenges traditional sociological approaches by focusing on power, inequality, and social justice. It aims to uncover the systemic structures that perpetuate social problems, rather than merely addressing the symptoms. Unlike traditional methods, Critical Sociology emphasizes the importance of understanding how power dynamics and societal systems contribute to social issues, providing a deeper analysis of the root causes of inequality.

How does Neoliberalism impact social inequalities, and what role can Critical Sociology play in addressing these issues within Social Work?

Neoliberalism, characterized by deregulation, privatization, and austerity measures, tends to exacerbate social inequalities by reducing social safety nets and increasing economic disparities. Critical Sociology offers Social Work a framework to analyze how these policies affect vulnerable populations. By using Critical Sociology, social workers can challenge power structures, advocate for policy changes, and empower clients to navigate and resist the adverse effects of neoliberal policies.

What are some practical ways Social Work professionals can incorporate Critical Sociology into their everyday practice?

Social Work professionals can integrate Critical Sociology by challenging power structures, addressing systemic issues, promoting social justice, and empowering clients. This involves critically examining the root causes of social problems rather than focusing solely on individual-level interventions. It also entails advocating for policy changes, engaging in critical self-reflection, and empowering clients to understand and navigate the social forces affecting their lives. Social Workers may find value in the work of thinkers such as Loïc Wacquant.

What does it mean for Social Work to challenge 'safe topics' in research, and why is this important for driving meaningful change?

Challenging 'safe topics' in research means questioning the established norms and assumptions that may perpetuate social inequalities. It involves delving into controversial or uncomfortable areas to uncover hidden power dynamics and systemic issues. This approach is crucial for driving meaningful change because it allows social workers to address the fundamental causes of social problems, rather than simply managing their consequences. Addressing 'safe topics' can lead to more effective interventions and policies that promote social justice and equity.

How does embracing Critical Sociology empower Social Workers to become more effective advocates for their clients and agents of social change?

Embracing Critical Sociology equips Social Workers with a comprehensive understanding of the systemic forces affecting their clients' lives. By challenging power structures and advocating for policy reforms, Social Workers can address the root causes of social problems rather than merely treating the symptoms. This approach enables them to empower clients, promote social justice, and create a more equitable society. Critical Sociology encourages a shift from managing consequences to transforming systems, making Social Workers more effective advocates and agents of social change.