Social Work in the Middle East

Countries across the Middle East face a number of social problems such as poverty, unemployment, housing, internal immigration and caring for vulnerable groups such as children, women, the disabled and the elderly. Providing an overview of the wide range of social issues addressed by social work practitioners, this book reveals the impact of the region’s distinct historical and cultural factors, traditions, and customs and applications on social welfare and social work practice.

Examining social work education and practice across a number of countries including Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman and Sudan this book examines and assesses the diverse nature of social work in these countries and the role of the profession in providing essential services to different client groups. This in turn illustrates how social work as a profession contributes to the welfare system in the Middle East, and the relationship and interaction between social work professionals and governments. Further, the contributors demonstrate the religious, historical, ideological, cultural and geographical factors that influence social work practice and delivery in the region, with particular attention paid to the role of Islam in guiding and shaping social welfare institutions and the practice of social services.

Bringing together the work of scholars from across the Middle East, this book will be welcomed by students, scholars and practitioners interested in the sociology, politics and culture of the Middle East, international social work and social welfare.

Hussein Hassan Soliman is Alber Humanitarian Umm AlQura Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern Illinois Carbondale, USA.