Reflections on Radicalism in Social Work History: Moving Forward in a Difficult Time
- 21 July 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Progressive Human Services
- Vol. 33 (3), 287-307
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10428232.2022.2101852
Abstract
This paper is a call for social workers to engage in discussions about the future of our profession. It draws on social work history and uses examples of the contributions of radical/socialist/Marxist social workers who faced challenging times and who promoted radical responses for creating a more just society. While the paper focuses on social work specifically, it was developed against a broader backdrop of cross-disciplinary literature of radicalism and critiques of the welfare state and social policy generally. The paper focuses mainly on Canada but because the histories are closely linked, there are also examples from the USA, and Great Britain. It includes a section on the role of social work education and the importance of using critical pedagogy in preparing social workers to advance social change, social justice, and human rights. And finally, some thoughts are provided on how social work might move forward.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Critical and radical social work: an introductionCritical and Radical Social Work, 2013
- Teaching Social Welfare History and Social Welfare Policy From a Conflict PerspectiveJournal of Teaching in Social Work, 2011
- CRITICAL PEDAGOGY AND STATE WELFAREPublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2010
- FROM THEPEDAGOGY OF THE OPPRESSEDTOA LUTA CONTINUAPublished by Taylor & Francis Ltd ,2010
- Speaking Truth to PowerAffilia, 2006
- Structural Social Work in ActionJournal of Progressive Human Services, 2005
- Social Work and the Campaign to Save Sacco and VanzettiSocial Service Review, 2001
- A Critical Understanding of Social WorkJournal of Progressive Human Services, 1990
- The Uses of History in Teaching Social WorkJournal of Teaching in Social Work, 1988
- Social DiagnosisThe American Journal of Nursing, 1917