The Routledge Handbook of Critical Pedagogies for Social Work traverses new territory by providing a cutting-edge overview of the work of classic and contemporary theorists, in a way that expands their application and utility in social work education and practice; thus, providing a bridge between critical theory, philosophy, and social work.

Each chapter showcases the work of a specific critical educational, philosophical, and/or social theorist including: Henry Giroux, Michel Foucault, Cornelius Castoriadis, Herbert Marcuse, Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Joan Tronto, Iris Marion Young, Karl Marx, Antonio Gramsci, and many others, to elucidate the ways in which their key pedagogic concepts can be applied to specific aspects of social work education and practice. The text exhibits a range of research-based approaches to educating social work practitioners as agents of social change. It provides a robust, and much needed, alternative paradigm to the technique-driven 'conservative revolution' currently being fostered by neoliberalism in both social work education and practice.

The volume will be instructive for social work educators who aim to teach for social change, by assisting students to develop counter-hegemonic practices of resistance and agency, and reflecting on the pedagogic role of social work practice more widely. The volume holds relevance for both postgraduate and undergraduate/qualifying social work and human services courses around the world.

About the Author

Christine Morley is Professor and Head of the Social Work and Human Services Discipline in the School of Public Health and Social Work at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, and Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Phillip Ablett is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, teaching in the social work and human services programmes in the School of Social Sciences at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Carolyn Noble is Professor of Social Work at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) in Sydney and Emerita Professor of Social Work at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.

Stephen Cowden is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Coventry University, UK, where he has worked since 2001.

Reviews

"This groundbreaking work forges tantalizing connections between the socially grounded practice of critical education and the educationally grounded practice of critical social work. A range of politically charged practice settings are analyzed through a variety of provocative theoretical lenses in a volume that is sure to become a reference point for anyone interested in the critical practice of social work." - Stephen Brookfield, John Ireland Endowed Chair, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, USA

"This book is a first for social work. It delves into a comprehensive range of theories to ensure that practice is informed by critical pedagogy. A much-needed l resource for educators, students and practitioners in the quest for the application of knowledge that contributes to social change." - Professor Linda Briskman, PhD, Margaret Whitlam Chair of Social Work, Western Sydney University, Australia

"This innovative book brings together high profile international academics, to reflect on critical pedagogies for social work education. It is the first time that is possible to access to a compendium of classic and contemporary theorists and to have a comprehensive overview on how their key pedagogic concepts can be applied to specific aspects of social work education and practice. It is a must-read book for academics that want to prepare social workers to be committed for social change and develop counter-hegemonic practices of resistance and agency." - Professor Annamaria Campanini PhD, President, International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), Bicocca University, Milan, Italy

"Critical scholarship of all kinds is more needed in the world, than ever before. Cementing the link between critical theory and critical pedagogy in social work, this book delivers gold standard analysis and insights on this under-researched and centrally important topic." - Donna Baines, Director and Professor of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Canada

"This volume pulls together critical theories about pedagogy in a new way to strongly inform social work education. It is a great to see this collection of theories which value adds to the specific impact of each. The book provides an exciting, and itself transformative, perspective on how social work education needs to be enlivened, enriched and made more effective in achieving a social change agenda. Compulsory reading for any social worker, and social work educator, who pride themselves on creating a social justice profession." - Professor Jan Fook, PhD FAcSS Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work, University of Vermont, USA

"This volume parades a breathtaking range of thinkers, pioneers of disciplines and activists, some of whom have rarely been made relevant for social work. It not only inspires new, critical approaches to teaching social work, but above all asserts the firm place social work as a discipline can command in today's academic context. Drawing on these contributions, social work teachers and practitioners can look afresh at social work's transformative potential as discipline and profession and confidently break through the many political, managerial and academic constraints that threaten to stifle practice, teaching and research today. A pioneering achievement." - Professsor Walter Lorenz, PhD Charles University, Prague. Formerly Free University of Bolzano, Italy

Book Information
ISBN 9781032175386
Author Christine Morley
Format Paperback
Page Count 584
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 979g