Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has struck a forceful blow to an already faltering economic and political system. Decades of neoliberal capitalism have left us with extreme domestic and global inequality, a climate disaster, and the death of democracy. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, any solace found in the toxic status quo has all but vanished. We are faced with an event of major historical significance, the effects of which are sure to be vast and enduring. As we emerge from this crisis and rebuild, we have a tremendous opportunity to (re)consider and (re)formulate the kind of world we want to live in. This essay reflects on the limitations of an uncritical desire for a return to “normalcy.” Further, it asks social workers to engage in a process of imaginative and speculative thinking to envision possibilities for our inevitably changed world.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has struck a forceful blow to an already faltering economic and political system
I write this essay from the vantage point of being a fully employed, childfree, tenure track professor in a small rural town in the western United States
The fear and uncertainty can be crippling. This is a crisis to be sure, but what if it’s more than that? What if it is an opportunity? Global catastrophes create the conditions for breaking with the past and building the world anew
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has struck a forceful blow to an already faltering economic and political system. As many of us have been forced to slow down and find new ways to move through the world, I suggest that rather than rushing to resume our lives as if this crisis never happened, we take the time to examine the world that was compared to the one that now is, and use this as an opportunity to imagine a world that could be.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Qualitative social work : QSW : research and practice
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
