Social workers and refugee service users (re)constructing their relationships in a hostile political climate

Bibliographic Data

ID21721527
AuthorsLior Birger (0000-0003-1136-5243, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, corresponding author), Y Nadan (0000-0001-6797-3454, Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Year2022
Volume22
Issue2
Pages402-421
Publication date2022-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-0173 • E-ISSN: 1741-296X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14680173211009739
OpenAlexW3166225055
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited39

This article explores the relationship between social workers and adult Eritrean refugee service users in the context of a hostile political climate and restrictive state policies. It examines the implications of politics and policies on the formation of this relationship based on findings from a qualitative study conducted in Israel and Germany. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 38 participants – 16 Eritrean refugees and 22 social workers who work with refugees. Findings Despite different political, social and organizational contexts, especially in the asylum policies towards Eritrean refugees, our thematic analysis yielded two main themes common to both countries: First, changing relationship structures, in particular moving away from a ‘traditional’ conceptualization of the social work relationship towards ‘informal’ practices. These included modifications of the setting, of professional boundaries and of the therapeutic language. Second, shifting power relations, characterized by a friend-like dynamic, which enabled more egalitarian relations, and a parent–child dynamic, which included increased power imbalances and dependency. Implications An increased understanding of the role of restrictive policies, everyday racism and exclusionary political discourse in the reconstruction of the user-worker relationship dynamics could inform social work education and practice. Beyond the refugee arena, establishing informal relationship structures could help to reduce power differentials, increase trust-building and improve therapeutic outcomes with refugees and other service users. The possible risks of informal relations, such as misunderstandings or worker burnout, are also discussed

Conceptualization · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Qualitative research · Refugee · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Homelessness and Social Issues · Law · Migration, Health and Trauma · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work

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