Social Work, Modernity and Post Modernity

Abstract

In this article we argue that current reform proposals coming from Robert Pinker and others are challenging the universalist premises of generic social work. Pinker et al. argue that social work should, for the sake of efficiency and performance, be a connected set of specialist activities. This 'determinate dispersal' which we recognise as falling within the remit of postmodern strategies, we contrast with the far more libertarian ideas of the noted post-modern theorist J.F Lyotard. Thus we site the political and cultural meanings of Pinker s ideas between generic social work which upholds ideas of universal ethical values and universal provision, and those of Lyotard whose anti-foundationalism proposes a radically heterogeneous society with no central value-structure.We express our concern that the 'new specialist' remit may allow too much power to the social worker. Thus we have considerable sympathy for Lyotard's call for a radical anonistics -a field wherein the inequalities of power between say, a worker and her client, to some extent can be redressed.

Values and rights: Content and form in social work education and practice

“…Thus social work, as postmodern, is characterised by fragmentation, diversity, bureaucratisation and performativity. McBeath and Webb (1991) develop this theme by suggesting that, in a postmodern world, social work's central values are no longer sustainable as a coherent and universal system. Values, like knowledge and understanding, have become undermined by a scepticism about universally demonstrable truths.…”

The impact of globalization on social work in the UK

“…Postmodernist theoretical insights and forms of practice do appear to be gaining popularity among social work academics, as evidenced in a growing body of literature (see also McBeath and Webb 1991;Howe 1994;Pardect et al 1994;Parton 1994aParton , 1994bParton , 1996Pozatek 1994;Powell 1998). Some of these have addressed the challenge imposed by greater insecurity and uncertainty engendered by various global transformations at the level of communities, raising the question of how social workers can operate effectively in these deeply troubling times.…”

“…Some of these have addressed the challenge imposed by greater insecurity and uncertainty engendered by various global transformations at the level of communities, raising the question of how social workers can operate effectively in these deeply troubling times. The answer for some social work academics appears to be to embrace uncertainty, to reject the view that social workers can respond to all social problems at all times, and thereby to relieve social workers of the highly unrealistic expectations made of them (see McBeath and Webb 1991;Pozatek 1994). As McBeath and Webb argue, rather than linking the high aims of the state to theoretically pre-determined concepts of the needs of the people-always a mark of the superior modernist state's ability to determine best interests.…”

Advanced liberalism, (post)modernity and social work: Some emerging social configurations

“…Social work appears to be increasing in diversity, uncertainty, fragmentation, and ambiguity-all themes that have been the focus of attention in social theory, and are considered to be indicative of Williams, 1992;Burrows and Loader, 1994;and Taylor-Gooby, 1994), and some writers have applied such approaches to social work in particular (see Rojek, Peacock and Collins, 1988;McBeath and Webb, 1991;Sands and Nuccio, 1992;Pardeck, Murphy and Chung, 1994;Parton, 1994a;Parton, 1994b;Pozatek, 1994;Howe, 1994). Some critics argue that these changes have been overstated or over signified (Clarke, 1991); others claim that the changes, at the economic and political level, merely represent new forms of class relations in the pursuit of profit and exploitation (Callinicos, 1989;Jameson, 1991); and others write that these transformations do not represent a distinct break with the past but a period of late or high modernity (Giddens, 1990(Giddens, , 1991.…”