Gegen jeden Common Sense – durch Widerspruch zur Sozialen Innovation

Abstract

The article problematizes the orientation of social work towards a seemingly unreflected "common sense", through which predefined ideas on the social design of society are elevated to the status of a norm. The preferred individual-oriented approach and methodology of social work often limits possibilities in support processes and accompanies those seeking help in a pedagogically disciplined rather than participatory way. Using resistance as an innovative stimulus within social processes, the potential for the further development of social work in this conflict is presented. In this context, innovation means anchoring negotiation and recognition processes on an individual as well as on a structural level in the methodological approaches and procedures. This should prevent a domineering "engineering of compliance", which is undesirable for democratic politics and policies. To this end, three tools—observation tools, navigation tools, and process design tools—are proposed that enable "navigating towards a diverse consensus."