The New Structural Social Work: Ideology, Theory, and Practice

The New Structural Social Work presents a coherent and consistent theory of progressive social work. With oppression as its central focus, the text demonstrates the shortcoming of welfare capitalism as a social system and how conventional social work fails to respond to systemic social problems. Emphasizing a progressive social work ethic, this text explores how students can incorporate a radical alternative to conventional social work within their own practice. Authors Bob Mullaly and Marilyn Dupre have fully updated this much-anticipated new edition.

Bob Mullaly is senior scholar and former dean in the Faculty of Social Work at University of Manitoba. Previously, he taught in the Department of Social Work at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, and in the social work program that he founded at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He has co-authored the recent third edition of Challenging Oppression and Confronting Privilege with Juliana West (OUP Canada, 2018).

Marilyn Dupre is assistant professor and director of the School of Social Work at St. Thomas University. She has previously taught in social work departments at Carleton University and University of Manitoba. Marilyn has published articles in Social Work Education, and her research interests include structural social work theory and practice, critical anti-oppressive theory and practice, and critical disability studies and social work education. In addition to her scholarship, she has a long history of in-service social work practice, including four years as the child welfare program manager for the Government of New Brunswick.

Boxes
Acknowledgements
Preface
Part1: In Search of a Paradigm
1. The Social Work Vision: A Progressive View
Introduction
Conventional and Progressive Perspectives within Social Work
Need for a Progressive Social Work Vision
The Fundamental Values of Social Work
The Secondary (Instrumental) Values of Social Work
A Progressive Perspective of Social Work Ideology
Social Work and Social Problems
The Ideal Social Welfare System: A Progressive View
Conclusion
Critical Questions
2. Capitalism, Crises, and Paradigms
Introduction
The Changing Face of Capitalism
The Globalization Thesis
The Crisis of the Welfare State in an Age of Globalization
Social Work in Crisis
Hopeful Signs
The Concepts of Ideology and Paradigm
Utility of the Paradigm Concept for Social Work
Conclusion
Critical Questions
3. The Neo-conservative Paradigm
Introduction
Conservatism
Neo-conservatism
Views of the Nature of Humans, Society, the State, Social Justice, and Social Change
Social Beliefs
Economic Beliefs
Political Beliefs
View of Social Problems
View of Social Welfare
Social Work Practice within the Neo-conservative Paradigm
Critique of the Neo-conservative Paradigm
Conclusion
Critical Questions
4. The Liberal and Neo-liberal Paradigms
Introduction
Liberalism(s)
Views of the Nature of Humans, Society, the State, Social Justice, and Social Change
Social Beliefs
Economic Beliefs
Political Beliefs
View of Social Problems
View of Social Welfare
Social Work Practice within the Liberal Paradigm
Canada as a Liberal State
Critique of the Liberal Paradigm
Liberal Hegemony in Social Work
Conclusion
Critical Questions
5. The Social Democratic Paradigm
Introduction
Socialism
Social Democracy
Views of the Nature of Humans, Society, the State, Social Justice, and Social Change
Social Beliefs
Economic Beliefs
Political Beliefs
View of Social Problems
View of Social Welfare
Social Work Practice within the Social Democratic Paradigm
Critique of the Social Democratic Paradigm
Current Status of Social Democracy in Three Anglo-democracies
Conclusion
Critical Questions
6. The Marxist Paradigm
Introduction
Marxism
Views of the Nature of Humans, Society, the State, Social Justice, and Social Change
Social Beliefs
Economic Beliefs
Political Beliefs
View of Social Problems
View of Social Welfare
Social Work Practice within the Marxist Paradigm
Critique of the Marxist Paradigm
Contributions of Marxism to Social Work in Anglo-democracies
Conclusion
Critical Questions
7. Feminist, Anti-racist, and Postmodern Critiques
Introduction
Feminist Critique
Anti-racist Critique
Postmodern Critique
Conclusion
Critical Questions
Part 2: Structural Social Work Theory and Oppression
8. A Reconstructed Theory of Structural Social Work
Introduction
Socialist Ideology
The Heritage of Structural Social Work Theory
The Imperative of Theory for Social Work
Order and Conflict/Change Perspectives
Structural Social Work as a Critical Social Theory
The Dialectic in Structural Social Work
Structural Social Work: A Conceptual Framework
Conclusion
Critical Questions
9. Oppression: The Focus of Structural Social Work
Introduction
The Nature of Oppression
Oppression as a Social Justice Issue
The Origins of Modern-Day Oppression and the Politics of Identity
The Dynamics of Oppression
Levels of Oppression
The Multiplicity and Persistence of Oppression
Forms of Oppression
Oppression as Structural Violence
Responses of Oppressed People to Their Oppression
Structural Social Work with Oppressed Groups
Conclusion
Critical Questions
10. Overview of Privilege
Introduction
The Nature of Privilege
Dynamics of Privilege
Personal, Cultural, and Structural Levels of Privilege
Why Dominant Groups Do Not See Privilege as a Problem
A Taxonomy of Everyday Examples of Unearned Privilege
Social Work and Privilege
What Can We Do?
Pedagogy of Privilege
Conclusion
Critical Questions
Part 3: Structural Social Work: Practice Elements
11. Working within (and against) the System: Radical Humanism
Introduction
Working with Service Users
Consciousness-Raising
In the Belly of the Beast: Surviving and Changing the Workplace
Conclusion
Critical Questions
12. Working outside (and against) the System: Radical Structuralism and Working within Ourselves
Introduction
Working outside and against the System
Challenging and Resisting the Dominant Order
The Moral Premise of Social Welfare: Universal Human Needs
Working within Ourselves
Making the Political Personal in Our Own Lives
Critical Questions
Notes
Bibliography
Index