Social Work's Histories of Complicity and Resistance - by Vasilios Ioakimidis & Aaron Wyllie (Paperback)

About the Book

Comparing international case studies, this book uncovers the role of social workers in politically tense episodes of recent history, skilfully navigating the profession's collective political past while considering its future.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"This essential book lays a challenge at the feet of the social work profession, providing key reflections on our role in society. It invites us to look backwards, to move forward with our ethics intact." Rory Truell, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers

"Highlights the ways that social workers have struggled to support the dignity of people, their rights to live in peace, to work, educate their children, and be healthy and safe, and shows how a coordinated approach within the profession is needed to strengthen its capacity to ensure that human rights and social justice are upheld within vulnerable populations in our times." Gary Bailey, Simmons University

About the Author

Vasilios Ioakimidis is Professor of Social Work at the University of Essex and the University of West Attica. He is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg.

Aaron Wyllie is Lecturer at the Centre for Social Work and Social Justice at the University of Essex.