Social Justice Theory and Practice for Social Work

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Injustice and Its Many Forms

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 1-22

3. Social Justice as an Ethic of Social Work

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 23-37

4. A Critical History of the Social Work Response to Social Justice

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 39-57

5. Capitalism and Neoliberalism

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 59-80

6. Power and Knowledge

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 81-95

7. Critical Social Science and Critical Theory

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 97-116

8. Distributive Theories of Justice

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 117-132

9. Democracy and Participation

   • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

   Pages 133-152

10. Human Rights and Autonomy

    • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

    Pages 153-170

11. Social Justice and Social Work Practice

    • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

    Pages 171-185

12. Social Justice and Social Work Education

    • Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

    Pages 187-206

13. Back Matter

    Pages 207-211

    PDF

This book offers a much-needed critical overview of the concept of social justice and its application in professional social work practice. Social justice has a rich conceptual genealogy in critical theory and political philosophy. For students, teachers and social workers concerned with empowerment, social change and human rights, this book provides a guide to the key ideas and thinkers, crucial historical developments and contemporary debates about social justice. It synthesises interdisciplinary knowledge and offers a new framework for practice, including a clear and practical exposition of four domains of skills and knowledge important for social justice informed social work. The book also contributes to social work pedagogy by offering a comprehensive set of learning outcomes that can be used to design curriculum, teaching and learning, and further research into social justice praxis. This book provides a range of philosophical and critical perspectives to support and inform social work professional knowledge and skills.  In its tight knitting together of theory and practice this book links philosophical and moral principles with an understanding of how to engage with social justice in a way that is relevant to social work.

• Social justice
• Social work and social justice
• Ethical social justice
• Political theory of social justice
• Social justice and human rights
• Critical theory of social justice
• Neoliberalism and injustice
• Distributive theories of social justice
• Deliberative and participatory democracy
• Definition of social justice
• Literature on social justice
• Social empathy framework
• Social work empowerment practice
• Value rational framework
• Empowerment theory
• Radical social work practice
• Anti-oppressive practice
• Teaching social justice
• Blooms revised taxonomy of learning
• History of social justice theory

• School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, Australia

  Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson

Lynelle Watts is a Senior Lecturer in social work at Edith Cowan University who teaches legal and ethical practice, social work history, theory and professional practice, and social research methods. Lynelle's research has focused on teaching and learning in higher education, reflective practice and critical reflection in social work, community assessment of risk and protective factors for children and young people, and assessment tools for carers of people with mental illness. She has published in the area of social work education and curriculum, authenticity in marketing, reflective practice and ethics education. 
 
David Hodgson is a Senior Lecturer in social work at Edith Cowan University who teaches philosophy of ethics, social work practice skills, project management, social work theory, social theory and research methods. David has conducted research on compulsory school leaving policy, school attrition, services for families and childrenand social work curriculum. He has published in the areas of sociology, early school leaving, compulsory education policy, social work education and curriculum, and ethics education. In 2017 David was appointed to the role of Associate Editor for the journal Australian Social Work.

Policies and ethics