Social Work and the Just Society

• Summary: The article begins by exploring the engagement of social work in Britain with ideas bound up with the creation of what might be termed the just society. This is followed by a critical discussion of diversity, difference and division. In conclusion, how social work in Britain might become more poverty-focused is briefly explored. • Findings: In the context of globalization and ‘savage capitalism’, social work should seek to connect its analysis of oppression to mass poverty. However, current approaches, focused on notions of diversity and difference, are failing to produce a rounded analysis because the impact of poverty and material hardship is not acknowledged. • Applications: Various themes can be related to the sequestration of poverty from social work’s dominant discourses. Five ways in which social work theory and practice could become more poverty-focused are tentatively identified.