Contemporary social work cannot be understood without an appreciation of the
broader context of social policy in which it takes place. Such an understanding
is increasingly important as social workers are expected to work across
institutional, professional and even national boundaries in new ways profoundly
affected by the changing global context.
This insightful book examines how shifts in the dominant political ideology have
affected the nature of welfare provision, the kinds of social problems addressed
by policy, and the balance of responsibilities for well-being between
individuals, the family, voluntary organizations, the market and the state. It
explains the impact of these developments on the organization of social