Radical Challenges for Social Work Education

Radical social work is an approach to social work that challenges the individualizing and blaming form of social work that neoliberalism has ushered in. It focuses on the circumstances a person might find themselves in, such as poverty, poor housing, poor education, high crime rates, and lack of opportunities. This book is a step towards resurrecting radical social work principles and urges us to think about how social work education can be reshaped to that end.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Radical social work is a transformative approach to social work that departs from a solely behavioral, moral, or psychological understanding of service users' problems. Traditionally, social work has been concerned with the moral character of individuals in trouble, often poor people, creating a clear divide between those deemed "deserving of help" and those considered "undeserving." However, the rise of science and the "psy disciplines" led to psychological explanations for the difficulties people faced. Both moral and psychological explanations, with their narrow focus on the individual, have experienced a resurgence in recent times, coinciding with the neoliberal self-sufficiency narrative and the growing emphasis on trauma.

Radical social work challenges these explanations and emphasizes the circumstances a person might find themselves in, such as poverty, poor housing, poor education, high crime rates, and limited opportunities. It seeks to address the systemic issues that contribute to social problems and promote social justice and equity.

This book is a valuable contribution to social work practice and theory, particularly for academics, researchers, and advanced students studying Politics, Education, Social Work, Sociology, Public Policy, Development Studies, Anthropology, and Human Geography. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal "Social Work Education," highlighting the importance of radical social work principles in today's social work education.

In conclusion, "Radical Challenges for Social Work Education" is a thought-provoking and essential read for anyone interested in social work, social justice, and the broader field of social sciences. It offers a radical perspective on social work that challenges traditional approaches and promotes a more holistic and equitable understanding of service users' problems. By resurrecting radical social work principles, this book provides a roadmap for reshaping social work education to address the complex social challenges of our time.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032218199