Why are you backing such positions? Types and trajectories of social workers' right-wing populist support

Abstract

The rise of right-wing populism and its impact on inclusive welfare and fundamental principles of social work have been discussed mainly as an external challenge to the profession, assuming, implicitly, that social workers are immune to right-wing populist positions because of their professional values and identity. This article questions this assumption, presenting the findings of a qualitative study carried out in the Italian context. The interview study involved a sample of twenty-one social workers recruited to participate via Facebook, where they had published posts and comments supporting right-wing populist parties and positions. The findings indicate different attitudes, experiences and trajectories which are summarised in an interpretative model, reconstructing four ideal-typical profiles of social workers supporting right-wing populist positions. The article suggests abandoning the hypothesis of social workers being immune to populist influences and instead takes seriously the experiences and frustrations that make them turn towards the siren calls of right-wing populism. The article also makes a plea for qualitative in-depth analyses of processes of micro-mobilisation leading to right-wing populist support.