Book Review

Theory and Perspectives in Social Work by Samta P. Pandya (New Delhi : Rawat
Publications)

Epistemological and Ideological shifts in Social Work Practice

This book concentrates on knowledge base and ideological shifts in social work perspective
from charity to welfare, empowerment, development, radical movements and postmodernism. In India this book brings theories and their social work perspective together on
one platform that form a part of social work. The author brings together all the concepts and
theories which form knowledge base and belief system of Social Work practice from Auguste
Comtes positivism to postmodernism.
In the opening chapter the author Samta P. Pandya discuss about social theorising that social
theorising is about developing abstract laws of social processes that are perpetually in
transition. The discussion in the opening chapter discussed about theory and nature of
existence, knowledge base, use of theory in practice and how these concepts evolve over the
time. Theorisation in social work commences from positivism and realism then moves
towards Marxism, Feminism component of critical thinking. This chapter proposes a
comprehensive view of social theorisation, positions and movements that interface with
social work knowledge base and belief system.
In the next chapter author discussed about theoretical concepts of Social Work from religious
belief system to positivism and towards scientific logical approach to reality of social world.
It is discussed here that how the theory, knowledge base and belief system of Social Work
evolve over the period and the core belief system of the theorists within each social
theorisation genre of positivism, realism, phenomenology and social construction of reality
and the total understanding that evolve there from.
In the third chapter author moves on to look and explaining belief system and knowledge
bases of Social Work in the context of Hegelian philosophy, Marxism and critical theory. In
this chapter the discussion is around the nature of existence of the theory, knowledge base
and set of methods and principles of Marxism thought and the happening disagreement that
arose in terms of critical theory. Key belief systems have been discussed purposefully to
include the range of understanding forwarded by Marx, along with Engels and Plekhanov as
methodological collaborators. The basic combination of events and ideas that produces
results of critical theory through its main proponents Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse and
Habermas have been presented.
In chapter four author discussed about the various knowledge bases and theories within
structuralism, post-structuralism, postmodernism and post-colonialism as knowledge and
belief system bases of Social Work Practice. Within structuralism, the positions of Saussure
and Claude Levi-Strauss along with certain aspects of Durkheim and post-Durkheim thinking
predominate. The post genres have references to threefold modes of thinking poststructuralism, postmodernism and post-colonialism. This chapter further discuss about history
of feminism, discourse on the critical examination of patriarchy and emerging genre of
thought. The discussions are in terms of comprehension of feminist nature of existence,
knowledge base and use of belief in social work practice.
Chapter five discusses about emergence of thought from religion and faith and their
knowledge and belief system bases in Social Work Practice. This chapter is thus an attempt
at simultaneously comprehending the small differences of religion, faith, and their connection

to social work perspective. All the religions discussed in this chapter very comprehensively in
the social work perspective. That how the religion provides knowledge base and belief
system to altruism and philanthropy as well as a moral and value orientedness. Which can
systematically linked to knowledge base and belief system in social work from a religious
point of view.
Chapter six examines the interrelated knowledge bases of social reform, Gandhian thought
and nationalism. Social reform, primarily understood as a nineteenth-century phenomenon in
the Indian context, has two broad formations: transitional and acculturative. Here he
discussed about the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Neo-Vedanta and Gandhian thought and
how these social reform movements affects social work perspectives in Indian context. The
discussion has examined social reforms and their effect in Maharashtra, Bengal, Punjab and
the South with variations therein. In terms of Gandhi, the main philosophical concepts of
truth and non-violence have been placed and discussed to form a knowledge base and system
of belief in social work perspective.
Chapter seven discusses about social justice and human rights discourses. Discussion of
social justice have discussed about early references to justice in Greek philosophy and
seventeenth-century philosophers such as Locke, Rousseau, Hume and later thinkers such as
Thomas Paine, Spenser and Kropotkin. In the discussion of human rights, the key discussion
is around the rights of each individual and combining the knowledge base of secular
humanism, liberalism, democracy and socialism.
Chapter eight discusses about movements (subaltern voices and praxis). This chapter looks
at assertions in the realms of use of theory in practical way that have revealed multiple
standpoints emerging from different belief system in the process. The examination is
simultaneously in the Indian context and in the context of social world both the context
woven intermittently. Commencing with Dalit movements and standpoints, the chapter goes
on to examine the different belief system of tribal movements in the indigenous context. The
womens movements have been discussed in their global and Indian formats focusing on
the visions, versions and strategies.The movement genre, i.e. subaltern voices and praxis
opening with Dalit and tribal movements, transnational and indigenous discourses in the
womens movement, queer theorisations and movements of LGBT rights, discussion on
ecology and disability have been done purposefully in terms of knowledge base and belief
system. Eventually the knowledge base link of social work to social theory has been
established.
Chapter nine discusses history of social work and the various domains in social work :
organised and scientific charity, clinical social work, ecological social work, radical social
work, feminist social work and critical, anti-oppressive and developmental social work. For
each of the perspectives, the linkages with social theory and movements are sought
attempting thereby to strengthen the understanding of the different domains through their
knowledge base. The trajectory that is followed is that each of the perspectives has been
explained through history and current positions and subsequently the linkages are sought.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Samta P. Pandya has set himself an ambitious task in writing a book which
brings theories and social work perspective in examining what relevance they have to social
work as an academic subject, a professional practice and as a response to problems which
will inevitably emerge under the present social order. This book proposes a comprehensive
view of social theorisation, positions and movements that interface with social work and lend
to a consolidation of perspectives. This book would serve as reference material for those who
are in social work. This analysis would be useful for comprehending broader categorical
imperatives of justice, equity and empowerment.
In this book the theories are not clearly explained and relationship of theories with social
work perspective is not established.