In Comparative Social Work–Stories of Conspiracy and Resistance, a critical yet overlooked aspect of the history of the social work profession is illuminated: the ongoing tension between social care and social control.
Through international comparative studies, with particular emphasis on child protection, the book reveals how institutions created to protect children and families have at times been used as mechanisms of surveillance, discipline, or even violent separation of families.
From colonial regimes and authoritarian policies to contemporary practices of managing poverty and "risk," the authors propose a critical reading of social work as a practice with deep political and ethical significance. At the same time, they highlight experiences of professionals and communities who resisted authoritarian policies and fought for democratic and emancipatory practices.
The book is not only relevant to the field of social work but also more broadly to the social sciences and to any reader interested in the role of social services in the lives of citizens, children, and families worldwide.
