Connecting Anti-racist and Anti-oppressive Theory and Practice: Retrenchment or Reappraisal?

In this paper the author offers a review of some of the major critiques of anti-racist theory and practice within social work and critically examines the trend towards anti-oppressive theory and practice as the ‘way forward’. She argues that the uncritical acceptance of the move away from specifically anti-racist perspectives towards the broader approach of anti-oppressive practice may lead towards the retrenchment of all such critical perspectives within social work rather than their regeneration. The author concludes that such a rigorous review will more fully ground the moves towards anti-oppressive practice as a paradigm for social work.