Abstract
This chapter explores the political construction and historical development of social work focusing on the profession’s inherent tension between social care and social control. It describes developments that have strengthened the peace process and discuss a more engaged role in social work. A role that goes beyond ethnic divides and re-claims the ‘social’ rather than the ‘national question’. The history of social work in Cyprus provides a unique representation of the country’s multiple political transitions. Mapping out the complex historical, structural, politico-legal, and cultural setting which has produced the particular frame of social work in Cyprus requires a historical perspective. The first grassroots meetings and conferences between social workers, and peace and reconciliation activists occurred for the first time in 2012. Like many other countries facing a similar predicament and historical context, Cyprus is facing one of the longest modern ongoing conflicts, manifested essentially as a de facto partition.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | International Perspectives on Social Work and Political Conflict |
Editors | Joe Duffy, Jim Campbell, Carol Tosone |
Place of Publication | London |
Publisher | Taylor and Francis |
Chapter | 11 |
Pages | 79-93 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781315150833 |
Publication status | Published - 30 Oct 2019 |
Keywords
- social work
- de facto partition
- Conflict-ridden societies
- peace
- Cyprus problem
- post-colonial
- ethnic/state conflict
- political transitions