Frankfurter Soziale Ökologie, gesellschaftliche Naturverhältnisse und Grüne Soziale Arbeit

Abstract

The long-term consequence of human domination of nature has been the destruction of the natural environment. The detrimental practices are widely documented, yet there is no indication that they will cease in the near future. In light of this, Lena Dominelli initiated the “Green Social Work” project in English-speaking countries approximately a decade ago. This can be further elucidated by considering a novel scientific reference: The Frankfurt Social Ecology explicitly identifies itself as a science of social relations to nature. The following article presents und discusses the fundamental concepts put forth by this theoretical framework. In conclusion, the social relations to nature are delineated from the vantage point of green social work. A central graphic concludes the explanations and can serve as an alternative to the familiar illustrations of the sustainability triad. It relates social sectors and nature to each other in space and time. Based on this, social work should and can play a far greater role than before in the comprehensive ‘greening of society’. This will ensure that it will not be overwhelmed by the social and cultural consequences of the multifaceted environmental crisis in just a few decades.