Radical social work

by Roy Victor Bailey, Mike Brake

The essays in this book pose questions and raise issues with the intention say the editors, to 'at least make the practitioners of social work uncomfortable'.These wide ranging essays sweep back and forth across a vast canvas from student education and training (an elegant essay by Geoffrey Pearson) to problems of counselling homosexuals (Don Milligan in a perceptive piece); from the theoretical bases of radical practice (Peter Leonard) to political and sociological manifestoes for social action (Stanley Cohen's critique of deviancy theory and Marxism) and on the sham of community development programmes (Marjorie Mayo). There is more beside, all contributing to the editor's overall perspective summed up by these words in their introductory essay.

Genres: Social Work

171 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1975

Reviews

[Harrie Harrison]

The only lecture I sat up and took copious notes was on this subject. The book that became my bible !

[Nikki Morse]

Written over 35 years ago and focused mostly on education and practice in Great Britain, this book still has interesting contributions to make to the thinking and understanding of social workers today. There's a wonderful introduction by Piven and Cloward that helps apply the ideas more directly to the American context. The book provides more questions than answers, and it's a shame that its not actually assigned in social work schools.