Abstract
Potensia. Thinking tools for the reflection on professional work with marginal groups.
In modern society, much is done to allow marginalised groups to participate in the ‘normal’ order. This PhD thesis focuses on power and counterforce within the network around marginalised groups. Starting point is a particular, local situation, which may be exemplary for other cases: a multi-problem group, which has been constructed by social care providers, the so-called Top50 of Caribbean Dutch men and the network around this group. This dissertation searches for thinking tools that may be useful in reflecting on how policy makers and professionals work with such marginal groups.
Foucault’s analysis of the practices of power provides a starting point for describing professional interventions and policies as normalising power strategies. De Certeau’s distinction between strategies and tactics offers a useful supplement. Using this distinction, the manner in which the various actors relate to normalising power strategies can be made visible. Finally, the concept of ‘logics’, as defined by Mol, may be used to construct different patterns of thinking and acting of the actors. In this case five logics have been constructed: individual care, community care, security, ‘Change the Mindset’ and political logic.
Conclusion
The concepts 'normalising power, ‘strategies and tactics' and 'logics' can be used as thinking tools, which aid the reflection on work with marginalised groups. These concepts should not be used separately, but the toolbox of social work professionals an policy makers should contain all of them, in order to reflect effectively.
In modern society, much is done to allow marginalised groups to participate in the ‘normal’ order. This PhD thesis focuses on power and counterforce within the network around marginalised groups. Starting point is a particular, local situation, which may be exemplary for other cases: a multi-problem group, which has been constructed by social care providers, the so-called Top50 of Caribbean Dutch men and the network around this group. This dissertation searches for thinking tools that may be useful in reflecting on how policy makers and professionals work with such marginal groups.
Foucault’s analysis of the practices of power provides a starting point for describing professional interventions and policies as normalising power strategies. De Certeau’s distinction between strategies and tactics offers a useful supplement. Using this distinction, the manner in which the various actors relate to normalising power strategies can be made visible. Finally, the concept of ‘logics’, as defined by Mol, may be used to construct different patterns of thinking and acting of the actors. In this case five logics have been constructed: individual care, community care, security, ‘Change the Mindset’ and political logic.
Conclusion
The concepts 'normalising power, ‘strategies and tactics' and 'logics' can be used as thinking tools, which aid the reflection on work with marginalised groups. These concepts should not be used separately, but the toolbox of social work professionals an policy makers should contain all of them, in order to reflect effectively.
| Original language | Dutch |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 16-Feb-2017 |
| Place of Publication | [Groningen] |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-367-9468-8 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-367-9467-1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |