ERIC Number: EJ1218455
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1043-7797
EISSN: N/A
Social Work, Politics, and Social Policy Education: Applying a Multidimensional Framework of Power
Journal of Social Work Education, v55 n2 p224-237 2019
The call to promote social justice sets the social work profession in a political context. In an effort to enhance social workers' preparedness to engage in political advocacy, this article calls on educators to integrate a broad theoretical understanding of power into social policy curricula. We suggest the use of a multidimensional conceptualization of power that emphasizes mechanisms of decision making, agenda control, and attitude formation. We then apply these mechanisms to demonstrate how two prominent features of contemporary politics--party polarization and racially biased attitudes--affect the ability of social workers to influence policy. Finally, we suggest content that social work educators can integrate to prepare future social workers to engage in strategic and effective social justice advocacy.
Descriptors: Social Work, Public Affairs Education, Power Structure, Advocacy, Curriculum Enrichment, Teacher Responsibility, Decision Making, Agenda Setting, Political Attitudes, Racial Bias, Social Justice, Ideology, College Faculty, Current Events, Political Issues, Social Problems, Policy Formation, Citizen Participation, Federal Legislation
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A