Book Synopsis

With contributions from those at the forefront of modern social work thought, this edited volume reflects the growing eminence of critical social work in the 21st Century. Taking a truly global outlook, this text advocates the promotion of equality through a range of radical perspectives and provides a blueprint for the future of practice

From the Back Cover

Fundamental to social work are the values of justice and equality. But it has long been felt that these values are being eroded under a system of capitalist power. Serving to reactivate and refresh social work's radical tradition to form a new political agenda, The New Politics of Social Work:

- Brings together leading international authors to deliver a critical exploration of the impact capitalism has had on social work

- Paves the way for students and practitioners of social work to take a more transformative, radical approach

This is an important and authoritative book for both advanced level undergraduate and postgraduate students of Social Work.

Review Quotes

"The book aims to 'devise a 'new politics' for social work in the belief that [the field] bears a public responsibility to confront injustice while seeking justice for all ... A key contribution of the book is its potential to stimulate debate ... Readers will find instructive examples of practice and policy aimed at developing and delivering values-based practice in today's austere human services environment." --James Kennerly Nash, Kevin Cherry, Ben Anderson-Nathe, Miranda Cunningham and Ericka Kimball, Social Work, Vol. 61 (4)

About the Author

Stephen A. Webb is Professor of Social Work, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Recent books include Evidence-based Social Work (with Gray & Plath, Routledge 2009), Social Work Theories and Methods (with Gray, Sage 2013), and the Sage Handbook of Social Work (with Gray & Midgley, 2012). Webb's critical analysis 'Considerations on the validity of evidence-based practice in social work' (2001) is the world's most cited article in the field and the most influential publication in social work over the last ten years (Hodges et al., 2011).

Mel Gray is Professor of Social Work and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Advanced Study for Humanity at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She is Joint Editor of Australian Social Work and is on the editorial boards for several international journals. Her interests range from creativity, morality, spirituality and theory and philosophy in social work to experiential social work education.
Stephen A. Webb is Professor of Social Work, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Recent books include Evidence-based Social Work (with Gray & Plath, Routledge 2009), Social Work Theories and Methods (with Gray, Sage 2013), and the Sage Handbook of Social Work (with Gray & Midgley, 2012). Webb's critical analysis 'Considerations on the validity of evidence-based practice in social work' (2001) is the world's most cited article in the field and the most influential publication in social work over the last ten years (Hodges et al., 2011).

Mel Gray is Professor of Social Work and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Advanced Study for Humanity at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She is Joint Editor of Australian Social Work and is on the editorial boards for several international journals. Her interests range from creativity, morality, spirituality and theory and philosophy in social work to experiential social work education.