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Reading Foucault for Social Work
By A.S. Chambon, A. Irving, and J. Epstein (Eds.)
Though published in 1999, this reader continues to be a valuable and timely resource for social workers interested in social theory, especially Foucauldian theory. Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was educated and taught in France. he studied philosophy and, at one point in his career, was the head of the Philosophy Department at the University of Clermont-Ferrard. he published many works that critique and deconstruct the practices of then contemporary institutions such as hospitals and prisons, among others. Foucault is often characterized as being one of the most influential thinkers of the 20 century, and the papers found in this reader reflect the compelling and, at times, disturbing impact of Foucault's ideas on the book's authors. His work is disturbing as his philosophy and areas of inquiry challenge the dominant discourse and implementation of many social work practices. The text does not claim to summarize Foucault's ideas. Instead, the editors acknowledge the individuality of the different contributors, noting that each emphasizes a different set of Foucauldian concepts that have influenced each writer. Rather than applying formulaic ideas to complex matters, the papers uniformly synthesize Foucault's concepts in a manner that is particularly useful in analyzing social work practices and policies.
The book is divided into two sections. Part One, "Social Work in Perspective," provides the scaffolding for the text. These four complementary chapters offer broad contextual arguments that locate Foucault's ideas in a post-modern framework for the social work profession. Part Two, "Social Work Practices and Knowledge Reconsidered," contains six chapters that can be read and digested individually. In fact, the editors note that the book does not attempt to develop consecutive arguments. Rather, these six chapters highlight and utilize different Foucauldian concepts. At times, the content of the articles are contradictory and the reader is well served by adopting an inquiring stance that is not bound by predictability or a need for closure. While some Foucauldian concepts such as power and governmentality are repeated in more than one chapter, each chapter captures the concepts uniquely. Of interest, the editors have included a glossary of Foucauldian terms in the text. This is a valuable addition that would be...