Future of Social Work

Brij Mohan is Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work, Louisiana State University, USA. Having taught at Lucknow University for over a decade (1964–1975), he moved to the United States of America where he served at the University of Wisconsin and Louisiana State University. He is Founding Editor of the Journal of Comparative Social Welfare (now published as Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy). Professor Mohan has published many books and papers on issues ranging from existential social work to transformative social practice. He speaks and writes about the human condition with undying hope for the survival of family, community and the world at large. Professor Mohan received his Master of Social Work degree from Agra University. He received his doctorate from Lucknow University and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from M.K. Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith.

• Foreword by Peter HerrmannProloguePoverty, War and WelfareThe World of WelfarePlateaus and Platitudes of PracticeArcheology of Social PracticeTransforming Social WorkHermeneutics of HelpSeven Pillars of Social PracticeEnvironmental Justice: A Practice ModelFreedom and Vocabularies of ChangeThe End of Social Work: EpilogueAfterwordBibliographyIndex

A master of social welfare, social work and comparative social policy has written a masterful book. Enough already of professional social work, it has denounced itself with decades of foolish accommodations, empty scholarship and even a wandering commitment to those in need. Unique in these sorts of analyses, Mohan asks for the consideration of elements outside of the ambience of social work but with a humane and humanistic commitment. Reflecting the modesty of his deep learning, he refrains from offering a vision. These sorts of things, following Huxley, in their reduction of complexity only produce dynasties of tyranny. Perhaps Mohan’s desire to ‘demystify the power of materialism at the expense of philosophical streams’ is best realized by first addressing the problems of social and economic inequality— two policies that are impeded by contemporary social work practice.