Social Work and Social Policy Transformations in Central and Southeast Europe, 2024

This book provides a picture of recent developments in social policy and social work in Central and Southeast Europe, especially trends after the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated significant welfare modifications. Through a comparative method, the book draws analytical conclusions about the interdependence between welfare state reforms and social work practices in Central and Southeast Europe and provides an overview of future perspectives regarding social policy and social service provision in this region. 

The country-based chapters of this contributed volume: 

• outline the context in which social policy and social work have developed and map the main changes in the welfare state since the transition from socialism; 
• elaborate the country-specific welfare state discourse and discussions, which through literature review depict the conceptual debates about the welfare state, social justice, equality, poverty, entitlements for cash transfer and services, privatization, and accessibility; 
• indicate the key challenges in social policy and social work; and 
• provide indications about the future perspectives of social policy and social service provision.

Chapter 1. Welfare State Reforms and Their Implications for Social Work in Central and Southeast Europe.- Chapter 2. The Austrian Welfare State – a Halfway House.- Chapter 3. Social Policy and Social Work in the Czech Republic: Partners at Fragile Times.- Chapter 4. The Politics of Welfare – From Rights to Obligations: The Case of Slovenia.- Chapter 5. Social Work and Social Policy in Croatia in Times of Continuous Reforms and Crisis.- Chapter 6. Three Decades of Post-Yugoslav Tranformation(s) of Social Policy and Social Work in Serbia – Still Between Uncertainty and Failure.- Chapter 7. Social Policies and Social Services in North Macedonia: Between Ideology and Reality.- Chapter 8. Social Welfare Policy and Social Work in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.- Chapter 9. Social Protection in the Republic of Srpska: Conditions, Challenges and Reforms.- Chapter 10. Toward a Post-Crisis Welfare State in Central and Southeast Europe: Challenges and Perspectives.

Maja Gerovska Mitev is a Professor of Social Policy at the Institute of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her research interests are focused on examination of the changing nature of the welfare systems and its impact on poverty and social exclusion, inequalities in access to social protection, as well as essential services for low-income people. She is editor-in-chief of the journal Ревија за социјална политика/Journal of Social Policy; a National Coordinator for North Macedonia in the European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN); and academic coordinator of the Central European Social Policy and Social Work Network (CESPASWON) within the CEEPUS program.