Agency and Advocacy in Social Work: Promoting Social and Environmental Justice Through Professional Practice

Abstract

This paper critically examines the role of the concepts of agency and advocacy within contemporary social work, with specific reference to the integrated promotion of environmental justice. Agency is interpreted as a processual and relational dimension of human action, which social work professionals are called upon to recognize, support, and enhance within pathways of individual and collective empowerment. Advocacy is understood as a transformative practice oriented toward structural change. It activates spaces of mediation between community demands and institutional decision-making systems, particularly in contexts marked by environmental inequalities. Building on this theoretical framework, the paper addresses the following research question: How can social work help construct effective territorial alliances to counteract environmental injustices affecting vulnerable populations? To answer this, we developed a qualitative, two-phase study. It involved narrative interviews with Italian social workers and a participatory training and research program, organized with the Professional Association of Social Workers of the Veneto Region (Italy). The eco-social approach served as a key interpretative tool for integrating environmental and social justice dimensions.