This paper explores the relationship between social movements, social justice and social work. It examines the role of social movements in promoting social justice and considers the influences of such movements in the development of emancipatory forms of social work practice. It also considers the question of whether social work can be viewed as a form of social movement in its own right. A central theme of the paper is the fundamental tension between social work as a force for social regulation and as a force for social development and emancipation.