Postmodernism and discourse approaches to social work

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate that there have recently been a number of major debates in social theory associated with the notion of postmodernity that should be taken seriously by social workers. Our essential argument is that such debates provide important insights into helping us to understand and conceptualise contemporary social work in a way which can inform practice itself. While the chapter can provide no more than an introduction to the area, we hope to provide sufficient signposts for readers to find their way through an ever-expanding and increasingly complex literature in a way which they will want to take forward. In particular, we will suggest that such a way of thinking is very instructive for articulating and developing notions of reflective practice.