The book you have in your hands describes from an interdisciplinary and European perspective the social dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. The case comes under the framework of the current public discussions on the topic. Thus, on one hand social problems are supposed to have its causes in individuals, and therefore are not a consequence of the socio-economic inequality. Consequently we find in Europe an increasing policy of self-activation and self-help as substitutes for social work. On the other hand new types of social vulnerabilities arise, giving the floor to new challenges for social work and social policy.