Social Work and the 'War on Terror'

Abstract

The terrorist attacks on the New York World Trade Centre and disturbances in Northern England in 2001, together with subsequent terrorist attacks in London in July 2005, have created in the public mind a concern about the direct threat posed to the safety of individuals and society. The government's response has been to mount a wholesale attack on terrorism and to wage a 'war on terror' whilst, at the same time, attempting to produce a cohesive society with a shared sense of belonging. Social work literature and practice have neglected these issues. The purpose of this paper is not to rehearse the causes of these events and responses, but to explore their relevance to social work and their implications for practice through a revival of more politically orientated radical and critical social work approaches.