Přehled o publikaci

Despite their critical role in addressing social issues, Czech social workers have played a limited role in shaping national policy. This chapter examines their political participation in the Czech parliament and the factors influencing it, including the social work environment and institutional opportunity structures. It also explores their career pathways and social advocacy. Using an exploratory approach, the study identifies eight social workers—spanning the entire parliamentary spectrum—who have held parliamentary seats since 2006. The analysis reveals that despite the profession’s low political profile, social workers are overrepresented in parliament relative to their share of the workforce. Findings indicate that social workers follow general patterns of Czech political careers, often beginning at the municipal level before advancing nationally. However, professional and institutional barriers—such as the weak political emphasis in social work education, professional fragmentation, and gender disparities—limit broader engagement. While some social workers in parliament actively advocate for social policies, their engagement varies based on professional background and political alignment. The chapter argues that strengthening macro-policy education and fostering professional unity could enhance social workers’ capacity to drive systemic change. Ultimately, it highlights their potential as political actors while acknowledging structural and professional limitations.