To what extent can and must social work, which is to be thought of and conceived on a global scale, operate within the framework of human rights and democracy? How will it, by incorporating new social and ecological movements, find answers to societal problems, social emergencies, and violations? A crucial factor in approaching answers to these questions will be the theories and understandings of human rights and democracy that social work refers to, as well as the scientifically grounded positions it adopts or prefers. Contributions from Silvia Staub-Bernasconi, Michael Winkler, Fabian Kessl, Nivedita Prasad, Carsten Müller, Dieter Röh, Nina Oelkers, Susanne Dungs, Sandro Bliemetsrieder, and Markus Hundeck.