The Social Pedagogy from its origins –almost two centuries ago and throughout its course– is based on the belief that social conditions can be decisively influenced and significantly improved through education.
Indeed, as a problem-centered science, it began with efforts to address various social issues in pedagogical ways, which were magnified during times of crisis. In today's era of complexity, constant and unpredictable changes, uncertainty, ambiguity, confusion, and increasing insecurity created by one crisis after another in the global arena –a crisis that is not just health-related, economic, psychological, or political but also ideological, spiritual, moral, and value-based– Social Pedagogy is called to respond to its role.
This role has now become prominent worldwide and in many different fields of the social "educational" reality, within which there is the potential for effective intervention and meaningful prevention. The complexity and unpredictability of social pedagogical issues necessitate a holistic, systemic approach.
In order to achieve this, continuous collaboration between theory and practice from the perspective of Social Pedagogy is essential, transforming into functional coexistence and unity, utilizing and enhancing the dynamic interaction of the social dimension of pedagogy with the pedagogical dimension of social life.
With its scientific equipment, Social Pedagogy has contributed and continues to contribute to the effective handling of many social pedagogical issues and ultimately to the reform of educational and social systems worldwide.
This book aims to highlight:
- in the first part, the imprint of Social Pedagogy in the international arena, through characteristic cases and focusing on its historical roots, as well as on thinkers who fundamentally established and decisively influenced the formation of this science in different parts of the world.
- in the second part, the –interacting– theoretical, epistemological, methodological, and practical dimensions, which emerge also through examples of research strategies and social pedagogical programs that precisely showcase the possibilities and prospects of contemporary Social Pedagogy.
