Affiliation
Plymouth University; University of ChesterPublication Date
2010-01-08
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This article explores relations of power in social work using insights drawn from the critical ‘toolkit’ emanating from work of French philosopher, Michel Foucault. The article discusses the relationship between Foucault’s conceptual tools of ‘knowledge and power’, the emergence of ‘the modern subject’ and the concept of ‘governmentality’. Despite ongoing pressures, professional expertise persists as a core element of neo-liberal government in the management of the population. We use a Foucauldian perspective to explore two issues central to contemporary practice: surveillance and discretion that epitomise dualism of power relations. On the one hand, surveillance brings with it a potentially problematic process especially in context of top down managerial power; yet, on the other hand, discretion is much more focused on what Foucault (1977) calls ‘the microphysics of power’ with opportunities for ‘resistance’ from the bottom up.Citation
Gilbert, T., & Powell, J. (2010). Power and social work in the United Kingdom. Journal of Social Work, 10(1), 3-22.Publisher
SageJournal
Journal of Social WorkAdditional Links
http://jsw.sagepub.com/content/10/1/3.abstractType
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
1468-0173EISSN
1741-296Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/1468017309347237