Aims and scope

DIALOGUE IN PRAXIS: A Social Work International Journal publishes the papers which are or will be presented at the School for Social Work Theory and Practice at Inter-university Centre (IUC) in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where teachers of social work, post-graduate students and social work practitioners as well as users meet annually to engage in the dialogue on social work praxis, i.e. knowledge of action.

 

It is devoted to multiplicity of social work, stemming from various national and international experiences. The aim of the journal is to attract all those who want to contribute to live discussions on contemporary issues in social work – both the actual ones held in Dubrovnik, as well as on-line and published discussion on the topics of social work theories and methods. These include the relationship between social work and social policy, working with children, youth justice, deinstitutionalisation, community support systems, ageing and spirituality in social work.

 

Contributions are based on the work at IUC and include academic articles of a discursive nature, research or empirical analysis. The richness of the journal should stem from descriptions and analyses of national policies, service delivery and state of art of social work in different countries. We also invite participants to share reports and reflections on research, and also the development of projects in which they were involved, either in introducing innovations, developing methods, changing the organisation or implementing policies.

 

The IUC has created the journal to provide an opportunity to ‘showcase’ high quality student work on their research, experiences and projects. It also includes views and reflections of the participants regarding the discussion in the courses, pamphlets on special issues in social work. The aim of the journal is to provide a review of material published in languages other than English in order to allow at least some of the neglected knowledge to slip through the language barriers. The journal gives an opportunity to extend the lively and alive discussion in Dubrovnik over the whole year and for people who have not attended the course. It aims to sponsor on-going and on-line serious and engaged discussion over the topics developed at the IUC or the topics to be followed when we meet at IUC next year.

 

DIALOGUE IN PRAXIS also creates a theoretical context, a space where it is possible to reflect praxis, develop the knowledge of doing social work, and ultimately creating better services that will really serve the users. It will enable singularities of existence but also connect people in solidarity and in the struggle against oppression. The journal aims to use the dialogue of difference, to use the wealth of people coming together from different countries and with different backgrounds to promote social work as science of doing, to be critical of its political and economic, cultural and structural framework and to create visions of how can people live together without being oppressed or excluded. Social work is a way of giving voice but also the instrument of change. The editors, the course directors and other participants will seek a way to include various materials form various participants yet with high quality of debate and articulation.

DIALOGUE IN PRAXIS is the continuation of the previous IUC Journal of Social Work Theory and Practice that was published since 1998 and edited by Dada Maglajlić (former director of the school) and Mari-Anne Zahl for eighteen issues. The present form is a continuation, re-launch and upgrading of the journal in order to provide better space for dialogue, yet increase the profile to highest level of quality. It aims to become a strong voice in the scientific community promoting social work knowledge, value and enabling the paradigm of praxis to evolve into a force that will shape reality. We want this knowledge to become true public good accessible to everybody free of charge and to be used for the better life and society.

 

 

All research articles in this journal, including those in special issues, special sections, or supplements, have undergone rigorous peer review, this generally involves initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by at least two independent reviewers.

 

 

The publishing consortium and editorial board makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the "Content") contained in its publications. However, we make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any purpose of the content and disclaim all such representations and warranties whether expressed or implied to the maximum extent permitted by law. Any views expressed in this publication are the views of the authors and are not the views of consortium, IUC or the editors.