International Social Work is the official journal of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).
International Social Work is a scholarly refereed journal designed to extend knowledge and promote international exchange in the fields of social work, social welfare, and community development. Its major focus is on the interaction between processes of globalisation and the development of social welfare at national level, as well as social work and community development locally. It aims at examining the meaning of international social work in practice and theory, and exploring how those concerned with social work and community development can engage with international issues. The journal also wants to encourage publication of comparative studies and cross-national research. International Social Work provides information on current international developments in education and training relevant to social work, social welfare and community development.
In addition to full-length articles, the journal features shorter “brief notes” contributions, as well as news and views from the owner associations. Abstracts of articles are translated into French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.
Additionally, we have recently introduced a section aimed specifically at practitioners. It is called Voices from Practice, and consists of short pieces of about 2000 words, highlighting practice issues, dilemmas, innovations, and shared insights that might have resonance for practitioners in all parts of the world.
Periodically, special issues of International Social Work focus on specific topics or regions. In the past these have included special issues on Globalisation, Older People, Child Rights in Africa, and Religion and Spirituality.
The International Social Work Journal Prize (Frank Turner Prize) is awarded annually on a retrospective basis to the author(s) of the article judged to have made the most significant contribution to advancing the aims of the journal. Winning articles are free to download here
This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Book Reviews
ISW Book Reviews publishes reviews of academic books in the fields of social work, social welfare and community development. Our aim is to share knowledge with our readers regarding books that have a strong comparative element, are about international social work, offer insights and evidence that is transferable between countries and raise issues of relevance to a wider readership.
The School Services Sourcebook
The School Services Sourcebook is a comprehensive resource that covers the most important ant timely information needed for school based practices. It is a unique …
Environmental Social Work
Social work has been ‘defined’ as a profession of many faces; an art and a science, whose knowledge base is eclectic. The increasing incidence of …
Social and Caring Professions in European Welfare States
This is a book edited by 3 colleagues from the Department of Social Work at Umeå University, a city in the North of Sweden and …
Social Change And Social Work: The changing societal conditions of social work in time and place
This work, described as a ‘jubilee anthology’, is written by a group of contributors united through their commitment to scholarship and their research network connection …
Familia- Escuela –Comunidad
There is a current consensus that considers education a process in which personal, familial, and socio-cultural variables converge. For that reason, contextual factors have been …
Breaking The Poverty Cycle
Breaking The Poverty Cycle uses an agent-oriented approach toward development in addressing barriers toward positive individual and community development. The authors use examples from the …
Social Welfare in East Asia and the Pacific
Social Welfare in East Asia and the Pacific is an excellent general work on social welfare and social work in selected countries in East Asia …
Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation: A UK Perspective
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an internationally known form of abuse of female children and young people. In addition to the pain when carried out, …
Social Work with Sex Offenders: Making a difference
Introduction This is definitely a worthwhile book for qualified social workers and students interested in any practice related to sexual offending, whether it is engaging …
U.S. Public Policy in an International Context
Refreshing, straightforward, and easy to understand, Volker Krause and Zachary Smith capture the essence of policy comparison in their book, U.S. Public Policy in an …
Professional Social Work in East Africa: Towards Social Development, Poverty Reduction and Gender Equality
The profession of social work in Africa has had a unique and diverse history, which continues today. From clan and kinship networks of pre-colonial Africa, …
Green Social Work – From Environmental Crises to Environmental Justice.
This book is a timely and inspiring publication. It shows that the social and the ecological question are no separable discourses and it tries to …
