Social Work’s Histories of Complicity and Resistance

“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

"This is an important book examining social work's collective past in order to ensure a future where human rights and social justice are upheld in marginalized communities." Professional Social Work

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.

Part 1: Making Amends With the Past

1. Learning From the Past To Shape the Future: Uncovering Social Work’s Histories of Complicity and Resistance – Vasilios Ioakimidis and Aaron Wyllie

Part 2: Legacies of Colonialism and Racism in Social Work

2. Canadian Social Work and the Sixties Scoop: Reflections on the Past, Lessons for Today – Filipe Duarte and Patrick Selmi

3. Reconciling Systemic Abuse of Children and Young Women With Social Work’s Commitment to a Human Rights, Transformative Practice – Carolyn Noble

4. The Oppressive History of 'Child Welfare' Systems and the Need for Abolition – Alan J. Dettlaff and Victoria Copeland

5. Colonial and Apartheid South Africa: Social Work Complicity and Resistance – Linda Harms-Smith and Yasmin Turton

Part 3: Social Work’s Contested Ideologies

6. Social Services in Nazi Germany and the Role of Social Workers Between Complicity and Rare Resistance – Carola Kuhlmann

7. Social Assistance in Franco’s Fascist Spain (1939–1975): A History of Social Control, Family Segregation and Stolen Babies – María Inés Martínez Herrero

8. Social Work in Times of Political Violence: Dictatorships and Acts of Resistance From the Southern Cone – Gianinna Muñoz-Arce and Melisa Campana-Alabarce

9. Trade Union Mobilisation, Resistance and Political Action of Social Workers in Portugal – Pedro Gabriel Silva and Alcina Martins

10. The Radical Roots of Popular Social Work in Palestine – Michael Lavalette

Part 4: Social Work’s Complicity With Institutionalisation and Detention

11. Institutionalisation and Oppression Within the Mental Health System in England: Social Work Complicity and Resistance – Rich Moth

12. A Refugee Crisis or a Crisis of Anti-Immigrant Politics? Hostile Refugee Reception, the Pandemic and New Solidarities in Cyprus – Nicos Trimikliniotis and Vassilis Tsianos

13. Institutionalisation of Certain Children and Mothers in Ireland: Reflections on the ‘Troubled History’ of Child Welfare Social Work – Caroline McGregor

Part 5: Survivor Perspectives and Contemporary Reflections

14. Facing the Legacy of Social Work: Coming to Terms With Complicity in Systemic Inequality and Social Injustice – Bob Pease

15. “We Want Social Workers To Hear Our Story”: Learning From Parents Whose Children Were Taken Away – Guy Shennan

16. Decolonisation and Critical Social Work Pedagogies – Caroline Bald and Akudo Amadiegwu

17. Adoption Social Work Practice in Ireland: Critical Reflections on Present-Day Injustices – Claire McGettrick