Renewing social care

This chapter introduces two of the major pressures which set the scene for a new hopeful phase in the history of social care internationally. The first of these is the changing demographic which looks set to increase the numbers and proportions of older and disabled people globally, challenging their traditionally marginalised role in many societies and strengthening them as a political force. This is taking place at a time when neoliberal politics have led to increases in inequality and poverty globally and the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us all how fragile our health actually is in a modern world of deregulation, privatisation and mass mobility. Changing demographics are likely to have major implications for policy; as is the growing recognition of intersectionality and cross-movement action on the part of new social movements, working for the valuing of diversity, participation and sustainability.