This book has provided a comprehensive introduction to the impact of political ideology and party politics on social work practice and its context.

Part I provided an overview of contrasting political ideologies and how each has played a role in shaping both historical and contemporary social work practice. Part II linked political ideology to traditional areas of social work practice: children and families, adult social care, mental health and criminal justice. It is hoped that readers will have gained an understanding of how political ideology has shaped legislation, policy and practice in these areas. Part III discussed contemporary and emerging areas of social work practice and identified the rapidly changing environment for social workers and service users alike, influenced by globalisation, austerity and neoliberal ideology.

Social work is political. This book has aimed to make clear the links between party politics, political ideology, social and economic factors and social work practice. It is hoped that readers will have gained an understanding that social work is inevitably shaped by the politics of the day and that social workers need to be cognisant of the impact of government policy on their working environments and on the lives of people whom they support. Such an understanding enables social workers to support people more effectively and, in recognising the impact of poverty, inequality and discrimination, to undertake more accurate and robust assessments of need and risk. It also enables social workers to protect the ethics and values of their profession and to challenge policy and practice which is not congruent with these values and with the Global Definition of Social Work (2014). This definition will become increasingly pertinent as the world continues to face global challenges such as the mass migration of people in response to natural disasters, war and conflict and the growing impact of climate change.

The editors and authors make no apologies for the overall left-leaning nature of this book. Many of them are social work academics with significant practice experience in social work and they inevitably embody the values of social work, which are essentially based upon socialist and social democratic principles. The Global Definition of Social Work (IFSW, 2014) is clear that social work is a profession underpinned by the principles of social justice, empowerment and equality.