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THE IMPACT OF NEOLIBERAL POLICIES ON SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND AN EVALUATION FROM A SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 107 - 134

Emrah Tüncer , İsmet Galip Yolcuoğlu

Abstract

Neoliberal policies have profoundly transformed not only economic structures but also cultural norms, social relations, and public life, leading to a structural reproduction of social inequalities. This study aims to explore how neoliberalism deepens not only income and wealth disparities but also cultural misrecognition and political underrepresentation through a multidimensional theoretical framework. Drawing on the seminal perspectives of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital, Nancy Fraser’s model of redistribution and recognition, and Thomas Piketty’s analysis of global wealth inequality, the study critically examines the destructive impact of neoliberal policies on mechanisms of social justice. From a social work perspective, the analysis highlights how market-driven, individualistic approaches erode solidarity-based welfare systems and hinder structural responses to inequality. The study argues for a paradigm shift in social work practice—away from neoliberal risk management and toward a justice-oriented, critical, and transformative approach. In this context, social work is reimagined not merely as a means of individual intervention but as a potential force for advancing social equality, human rights, and collective empowerment. This research seeks to contribute both theoretically and practically to the redefinition of social work’s role as an agent of systemic change in the neoliberal era.

Keywords

Neoliberalism social inequality social services Piketty Bourdieu Fraser structural inequality

References

  • Abramovitz, M., & Zelnick, J. (2010). Double jeopardy: The impact of neoliberalism on care workers in the United States and South Africa. International Journal of Health Services, 40(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.2190/hs.40.1.f
  • Acar, E. (2017). Neoliberalizm ve sosyal refah devleti ekseninde üçüncü yol yaklaşımı. Kastamonu Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 248–263.
  • Albayrak, H. (2021). Eleştirel sosyal hizmet teorisi ve uygulaması. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 32(1), 383–401. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.791666
  • Amin, S. (1999). Küreselleşme çağında kapitalizm (Çev. Vasıf Erenus). Sarmal Yayınevi.
  • Apgar, D., & Parada, M. (2023). Missing the mark? Advances in Social Work, 22(3), 876. https://doi.org/10.18060/25748
  • Atli, C. S., & Cimrin, F. K. (2023). A qualitative study of the elements of symbolic violence in official education documents. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 23(33). https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.33.879
  • Burda, Z., Wojcieszak, P., & Zuchniak, K. (2019). Dynamics of wealth inequality. Comptes Rendus Physique, 20(4), 349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crhy.2019.05.011
  • Caplan, M., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2016). Institutionalizing neoliberalism: 21st-century capitalism, market sprawl, and social policy in the United States. Poverty & Public Policy, 8(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1002/pop4.128
  • Dekker, S. (2020). Safety after neoliberalism. Safety Science, 125, 104630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104630
  • Danış, M. Z., Karataş, K., & Şahin, M. C. (2008). Reflections of neo-liberal policies on health-care field and social work practices directed towards the empowerment of person with chronic illness and his/her family in the globalization process. World Applied Sciences Journal, 5(2), 224–235.
  • Gouws, A. (2013). Multiculturalism in South Africa: Dislodging the binary between universal human rights and culture/tradition. Politikon, 40(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589346.2013.765674
  • Gwilym, H. (2018). Social work, neoliberalism and authoritarianism: An analysis of the policy document ‘Regulating social workers’. Critical and Radical Social Work, 6(3), 407. https://doi.org/10.1332/204986018x15388226259290
  • Herr, H., & Gündüz, Ü. (2016). Keynes ve Keynes’i yorumlayanlar. Toplum ve Demokrasi Dergisi, 3(6), 103–124.
  • Kalfa Ataay, C. (2016). Hayek ve Friedman’ın devlet anlayışı. Marmara Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(1), 129–151.
  • Kourachanis, N. (2021). Social change and the Greek welfare state crisis (2010–2020). Journal of Social Change, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.5590/josc.2021.13.2.04
  • Moncrieff, J. (2022). The political economy of the mental health system: A Marxist analysis [Review of The political economy of the mental health system: A Marxist analysis]. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.771875
  • Pabón, F. A. D., Leibbrandt, M., Ranchhod, V., & Savage, M. (2021). Piketty comes to South Africa [Review of Piketty comes to South Africa]. British Journal of Sociology, 72(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12808
  • Rogowski, S. (2018). Neoliberalism and social work with children and families in the UK: On-going challenges and critical possibilities. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 30(3), 72. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol30iss3id519
  • Şahin, S. (2021). Neoliberal politikalar ve Türkiye’de özelleştirme uygulamaları. Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 160–176.
  • Stuart, H. (2020). ‘Professional inefficacy is the exact opposite of the passionate social worker’: Discursive analysis of neoliberalism within the writing on self-care in social work. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 32(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/10428232.2020.1790715
  • Terzioğlu, O., & Çağla, C. (2021). Büyük Buhran ve Amerika’da sosyal politika. Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(41), 871–926. https://doi.org/10.21550/sosbilder.913935
  • Winters, L. M. (2019). Undermining the value of social engagement: The role of neoliberalism in the student mental health crisis. https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/48/
  • Yılıdız, N. (2008). Neoliberal küreselleşme ve eğitim. Dicle Üniversitesi Ziya Gökalp Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi(11), 13–32.
  • Zelnick, J., & Abramovitz, M. (2020). The perils of privatization: Bringing the business model into human services. Social Work, 65(3), 213. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swaa024

NEOLİBERAL POLİTİKALARIN TOPLUMSAL EŞİTSİZLİK ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİ VE SOSYAL HİZMETLER PERSPEKTİFİNDEN BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 1, 107 - 134

Emrah Tüncer , İsmet Galip Yolcuoğlu

Abstract

Neoliberal politikalar, son kırk yılda yalnızca ekonomik yapıları dönüştürmekle kalmamış; aynı zamanda kültürel normları, sosyal ilişkileri ve kamusal yaşamı da derinden etkileyerek toplumsal eşitsizliklerin yapısal biçimde yeniden üretilmesine zemin hazırlamıştır. Bu çalışma, neoliberalizmin yalnızca gelir ve servet dağılımındaki adaletsizlikleri değil, aynı zamanda kültürel tanınma ve toplumsal temsiliyet eksikliklerini de nasıl derinleştirdiğini çok boyutlu bir kuramsal çerçeveyle incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Pierre Bourdieu’nün sermaye türleri kuramı, Nancy Fraser’ın yeniden dağıtım ve tanınma modeli ile Thomas Piketty’nin küresel servet eşitsizliği analizlerinden hareketle, neoliberal politikaların toplumsal adalet mekanizmaları üzerindeki yıkıcı etkisi ele alınmaktadır. Sosyal hizmetler perspektifinden yapılan çözümlemeler, bu politikaların bireyselcilik, rekabet ve piyasa mantığına dayalı yaklaşımının, dayanışma temelli refah anlayışını aşındırdığını ve yapısal eşitsizliklerle mücadeleyi zorlaştırdığını göstermektedir. Çalışma, sosyal hizmetin mevcut neoliberal yapılarla uyumlu hale getirilen biçiminden uzaklaşılarak, daha adalet merkezli, eleştirel ve dönüşümcü bir perspektife evrilmesi gerektiğini savunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, sosyal hizmet uygulamalarının, yalnızca bireysel risk yönetimi değil, aynı zamanda toplumsal eşitlik, hak temelli yaklaşımlar ve güçlendirici müdahaleler yoluyla sosyal adaleti inşa etme potansiyeli yeniden ele alınmaktadır. Çalışma, neoliberal çağda sosyal hizmetin rolünü yeniden düşünmeye ve bu rolü toplumsal dönüşümün bir aracı olarak yeniden konumlandırmaya yönelik teorik ve pratik bir katkı sunmayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

Neoliberalizm toplumsal eşitsizlik sosyal hizmetler Piketty Bourdieu Fraser yapısal eşitsizlik

References

  • Abramovitz, M., & Zelnick, J. (2010). Double jeopardy: The impact of neoliberalism on care workers in the United States and South Africa. International Journal of Health Services, 40(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.2190/hs.40.1.f
  • Acar, E. (2017). Neoliberalizm ve sosyal refah devleti ekseninde üçüncü yol yaklaşımı. Kastamonu Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 248–263.
  • Albayrak, H. (2021). Eleştirel sosyal hizmet teorisi ve uygulaması. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 32(1), 383–401. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.791666
  • Amin, S. (1999). Küreselleşme çağında kapitalizm (Çev. Vasıf Erenus). Sarmal Yayınevi.
  • Apgar, D., & Parada, M. (2023). Missing the mark? Advances in Social Work, 22(3), 876. https://doi.org/10.18060/25748
  • Atli, C. S., & Cimrin, F. K. (2023). A qualitative study of the elements of symbolic violence in official education documents. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 23(33). https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.33.879
  • Burda, Z., Wojcieszak, P., & Zuchniak, K. (2019). Dynamics of wealth inequality. Comptes Rendus Physique, 20(4), 349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crhy.2019.05.011
  • Caplan, M., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2016). Institutionalizing neoliberalism: 21st-century capitalism, market sprawl, and social policy in the United States. Poverty & Public Policy, 8(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1002/pop4.128
  • Dekker, S. (2020). Safety after neoliberalism. Safety Science, 125, 104630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104630
  • Danış, M. Z., Karataş, K., & Şahin, M. C. (2008). Reflections of neo-liberal policies on health-care field and social work practices directed towards the empowerment of person with chronic illness and his/her family in the globalization process. World Applied Sciences Journal, 5(2), 224–235.
  • Gouws, A. (2013). Multiculturalism in South Africa: Dislodging the binary between universal human rights and culture/tradition. Politikon, 40(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589346.2013.765674
  • Gwilym, H. (2018). Social work, neoliberalism and authoritarianism: An analysis of the policy document ‘Regulating social workers’. Critical and Radical Social Work, 6(3), 407. https://doi.org/10.1332/204986018x15388226259290
  • Herr, H., & Gündüz, Ü. (2016). Keynes ve Keynes’i yorumlayanlar. Toplum ve Demokrasi Dergisi, 3(6), 103–124.
  • Kalfa Ataay, C. (2016). Hayek ve Friedman’ın devlet anlayışı. Marmara Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(1), 129–151.
  • Kourachanis, N. (2021). Social change and the Greek welfare state crisis (2010–2020). Journal of Social Change, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.5590/josc.2021.13.2.04
  • Moncrieff, J. (2022). The political economy of the mental health system: A Marxist analysis [Review of The political economy of the mental health system: A Marxist analysis]. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.771875
  • Pabón, F. A. D., Leibbrandt, M., Ranchhod, V., & Savage, M. (2021). Piketty comes to South Africa [Review of Piketty comes to South Africa]. British Journal of Sociology, 72(1), 106. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12808
  • Rogowski, S. (2018). Neoliberalism and social work with children and families in the UK: On-going challenges and critical possibilities. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 30(3), 72. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol30iss3id519
  • Şahin, S. (2021). Neoliberal politikalar ve Türkiye’de özelleştirme uygulamaları. Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 160–176.
  • Stuart, H. (2020). ‘Professional inefficacy is the exact opposite of the passionate social worker’: Discursive analysis of neoliberalism within the writing on self-care in social work. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 32(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/10428232.2020.1790715
  • Terzioğlu, O., & Çağla, C. (2021). Büyük Buhran ve Amerika’da sosyal politika. Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(41), 871–926. https://doi.org/10.21550/sosbilder.913935
  • Winters, L. M. (2019). Undermining the value of social engagement: The role of neoliberalism in the student mental health crisis. https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/48/
  • Yılıdız, N. (2008). Neoliberal küreselleşme ve eğitim. Dicle Üniversitesi Ziya Gökalp Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi(11), 13–32.
  • Zelnick, J., & Abramovitz, M. (2020). The perils of privatization: Bringing the business model into human services. Social Work, 65(3), 213. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swaa024
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Gender, Policy and Administration, Policy and Administration (Other), Social Theory
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Emrah Tüncer 0000-0001-9120-2270

İsmet Galip Yolcuoğlu

Early Pub Date July 2, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date May 11, 2025
Acceptance Date June 23, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 21 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Tüncer, E., & Yolcuoğlu, İ. G. (n.d.). NEOLİBERAL POLİTİKALARIN TOPLUMSAL EŞİTSİZLİK ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİ VE SOSYAL HİZMETLER PERSPEKTİFİNDEN BİR DEĞERLENDİRME. Paradoks Ekonomi Sosyoloji Ve Politika Dergisi, 21(1), 107-134.