Decolonising Social Work in Finland

“Exposing and dismantling the prevailing colonial structures and knowledge systems in social work, this powerful book offers a deep understanding of coloniality in the Nordic countries and beyond.” Kristín Loftsdóttir, University of Iceland

"This is a bold and critical engagement with (de)coloniality, Whiteness, epistemic and structural injustices, and radical imaginaries. While situated in the Finnish context, it has global relevance, providing a depth and breadth of scholarly and experiential knowledges. It certainly succeeds in its aim of challenging the dominance of Western scholarly discourses and reimagining social work futures." Linda Harms-Smith, Professor of Social Work, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Kris Clarke is Professor of Social Work at the University of Helsinki.

Leece Lee-Oliver (Blackfeet/Choctaw) is a decolonial scholar, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and Director of American Indian Studies at California State University, Fresno.

Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö is Lecturer in Social Work in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.

Introduction – Kris Clarke, Leece Lee-Oliver and Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö

Part 1: Exploring Coloniality in the Finnish Social Work Field

1. Between a Rock and Hard Place: Discussing Sámi Issues in Contemporary Finland: A Conversation With Ánneristen Juuso – Ánneristen Juuso (Anni-Kristiina Juuso)

2. Welfare State Nationalism, Family Reunification and Forced Migrants’ Strategies To Surpass Structural Violence – Camilla Nordberg, Joa Hiitola, Hanna Kara and Maija Jäppinen

3. Contesting Universalism in Finnish Health and Social Services: Experiences of Migrant Parents With a Disabled Child – Eveliina Heino, Hanna Kara and Annika Lillrank

4. Homonationalism and Talking Back in Finnish Social Work with Non-Heterosexual People with Refugee Background – Inka Söderström,

5. Social workers’ perceptions on structural challenges for minorities’ social care – Kati Turtiainen and Merja Anis

6. Deconstructing racialised and cultural otherisation with young people through pluralistic arts-based social work - Enni Mikkonen

Part 2: Naming and Confronting Epistemic and Structural Injustice

7. Silence So Loud It Hurts: Racialisation, Erasure, and Future-Building in Finnish Social Work -

Koko Hubara

8. Transcultural Mental Health As the Colonisation of Racialised Bodies: A Personal Insight – Fadumo Dayib and Kris Clarke

9. Emergent Healing Spaces: Decolonising Healing and Wellness in Finland – Wambui Njuguna

10. Intersectional Knowledge Practices in Academia From Marginal Positions: Testimonios From Researchers of Colour in Finland – Smarika KC, Priscilla Osei and Kris Clarke

Part 3: Reimaging Caring and Social Work Futurities

11. Counter Archiving as a Decolonial Pedagogy of Collective Care – Lena Sawyer, Kris Clarke and Nana Osei-Kofi

12. Post-professional social work? Decolonising social work professionalism through the engagement of community health workers -Saana Raittila-Salo

13. Decolonising Mindfulness, Mindful Decolonisation, and Social Work Futurities – Michael Yellow Bird, and Holly Hatton-Bowers

Conclusion - Kris Clarke, Leece Lee-Oliver and Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö