Abstract
The political mandate of social work is a topic on which theory and practice divert. The international definition of social work and Silvia Staub-Bernasconi’s concept of the triple mandate, which is very well-known in Austria, clearly indicate the role of the profession as a political actor. In social work practice, however, this role becomes less clear. This article presents findings from my master’s thesis on the professional self-understanding of social workers from different generations in Austria (two federal states: Vorarlberg and Vienna). Additionally, it seeks to ascertain whether social workers’ political self-understanding has changed over the course of the last decades. First, the article discusses generational differences and similarities in relation to societal processes and changes. Subsequently, the (un)desired role of social work in politics and society is examined from the participants’ perspectives. The article concludes with a brief summary and indications for social work practice and education in Austria.