To be or not to be an a Activist – Reflections of the Romanian Social Workers on their Activist Practice
To be or not to be an a Activist – Reflections of the Romanian Social Workers on their Activist Practice

Summary/Abstract: Activism is a complex social phenomenon and does not have a universally agreed definition. However, broadly, it is defined as a set of actions that lead to changes at different levels (e.g., systemic, institutional, individual) and in various domains (e.g., social, political, cultural). Also, in the present days, it is often associated with pursuing social justice, challenging social injustice, empowering marginalised groups and so on. Given this aspect, several social work scholars argued that activism is, or it should be, a part of transformative social work practice. Yet, due to structural and institutional impediments, the transformative/activist side of social work is rather latent. Additionally, scholarship on this topic is fairly limited. In this context, the present study focuses on understanding how Romanian social workers conceptualise and engage with activism, and how this can be enhanced as a tool for social transformation. The article also presents some reflections on activist identity, values, personal experiences, and barriers influencing activism.

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