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Abu Jacobsson, S. Artistic expression in social work. A road to empowerment? Degree project in social work 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö University: Faculty of Health and Society, Department of social work, 2018.One of the main tasks of social work is to contribute to the empowerment of individuals and groups, and by doing so, also promoting values such as democracy, participation, equality and liberation of resources. During the last decades the development of social work has been characterized by processes of rationalization and higher demands on scientific evidence and evaluation. Social workers use standardized models and forms in the interaction with individuals, creating clients and needs that suit the system. From a critical perspective this type of rationalized practices contribute less to empowerment and liberation of resources, and more to social stratification, limitation and marginalization of those who do not “fit in”.This qualitative study aims at highlighting the potential of artistic expression in social work in the quest to promote empowerment at individual, group and community level. The results show that artistic expression, offering opportunities of reflecting human diversity, promote empowerment of individuals and groups in various ways, and contributes to processes of participation, social inclusion and democracy.Keywords: Artistic expression, empowerment, human development, participation, social inclusion, social justice, social work.

Social policy challenges in terms of structural social changes, consisting of economic, political and social conditions, shed light on integration policy difficulties in the Swedish welfare state. The aim and purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze, based on organizational isomorphism, how representatives from a selected football organization in Sweden understand football as an integrative tool and how they work with integration of children and adolescents through their certified academy. Also, in which ways the organization obtains legitimacy for their integrational work.  The results and analysis of the study shows that inclusion and exclusion through football academies is a complex and comprehensive task. It is presented mainly through the understanding of football as a logic, where football is presented as a promoter of integration and as a force for good, even though the main focus of the organization and thereby academy is to produce successful football players.