Modern Social Work Theory: A Critical Introduction

An established best-seller, Modern Social Work Theory has been substantially rewritten to offer a thoroughly up-to-date, comprehensive and critical review of social work theory that draws more fully on world literature. It includes two completely new chapters on social and community development and on anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive theory, as well as more substantial coverage of group and residential work. It also contains new material on the social construction perspective, on postmodern views of social work theory and on the relationship between theory and practice.

Malcolm Payne is the director of psycho-social and spiritual care at St. Christopher s Hospice in London. He is emeritus professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. He has been extensively involved in international social work, leading and working on projects to develop social work and social policy in Russia, China, and Eastern Europe. He has written 10 books and 250 shorter works published in 13 languages.