Social workers who identify with the marginalized populations they are sworn to support are now caught up in a shifting social paradigm that has turned identifying with certain needy groups into dangerous divisive politics. This paradigm shift has been so gradual it almost went unnoticed until it finally crystallized into hard political positions. The last place that devoted, well-meaning social workers want to find themselves is being pushed to the hard right or the far left when it comes to identifying need and taking action to alleviate suffering. How did this shift happen?
Resource mobilization (RM) views formal organizations rather than individuals as central to the analysis of social movements. Social movement organizations (SMO) are complex, centralized, formal, highly developed, professional groups that articulate the goals of the more general social movement and translate them into political action. Any given social movement may have several social movement organizations working toward mobilizing organizations for change, effectively comprising a social movement industry.
Now we find ourselves in the danger zone. The kindly, caring social worker has become the hardened political operative. This paradigm shift has occurred in the most well-meaning social workers who gradually realized that they would have to ban together with like-minded people to affect meaningful social change. Their sympathy and empathy for the needy they work with and for every day motivates them to become political activists. It is almost unavoidable.
The history of social work is replete with political activists. This is a good thing until collective identities become hardened into positions that are unable to entertain any opposing narrative. Then, "helping the needy" morphs into "winning at all costs".
Perhaps this quote from Jane Addams, the originator of social work as we have come to know it in America, will help temper the enthusiasm that comes with collective empowerment and guide us through this era of a constantly shifting social work paradigm:
"The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secure for all of us and incorporated into our common life."