Social work is often presented
as a benevolent and politically neutral profession, avoiding
discussion about its sometimes troubling political histories.
This
book rethinks social work’s legacy and history of both political
resistance and complicity with oppressive and punitive practices.
Using a comparative approach with international case studies, the
book uncovers the role of social workers in politically tense
episodes of recent history, including the anti-racist struggle in the
US and the impact of colonialism in Australia, New Zealand and
Canada.
As
the de-colonisation of curricula and the Black Lives Matter movement
gain momentum, this fascinating book skilfully navigates social
work’s collective political past while considering its future.
