Active Equality: Jacques Ranciere's Contribution to Social Work's 'New Left'

Abstract

Social work, maintains the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), is committed to promoting ‘empowerment’, ‘liberation’ and ‘social justice’. Critical engagement with the work of Jacques Rancière may assist social workers in trying to conceptualise and struggle to realise such objectives. The article begins with a brief biographical sketch of the French thinker, and then identifies some of his main intellectual concerns. It then specifically explores two of Rancière's key concepts: the ‘police’ and ‘politics’. This will be followed by a short examination of some of the substantial criticisms which can be directed at his theorisation. Nevertheless, it will be suggested that we can identify places of intersection which might fruitfully link Rancière to the project to construct a ‘New Left’ within social work.