The author describes the origins of social care and social work in Western traditions, particularly Britain and the North Atlantic, in Christian scriptures, the theologies of the fourth century CE, and Reformation Calvinism. He describes key texts that shaped Christian religious responses to the poor; the development of the period of religious response to the poor, which was responsible for the foundation of religious and secular efforts in the West; and the role of the church and civic theologies from medieval Europe to the Enlightenment. He also discusses industrialization and the emergence of contemporary social work in the 19th century, how social work became a formal occupation, and social care in global traditions. Policy Press is an imprint of Bristol University Press. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
European and North American notions of helping - or managing - poor and marginalised people have deep roots in religious texts and traditions which continue to influence contemporary social policy and social work practice in ways which many do not realise.Bringing together interdisciplinary scholarship, Mark Henrickson argues that it is essential to understand and critique social work’s origins in order to work out what to retain and what must change if we are to achieve the vision of a truly global profession. Addressing current debates in international social work about social justice, professionalisation, and the legacy of colonisation, this thought-provoking book will allow practitioners and scholars to consider and create a global future for social work.