Migration and Social Work: Approaches, Visions and Challenges, Emilio José Gómez-Ciriano, Elena Cabiati and Sofia Dedotsi

Abstract

I acknowledge the children and adults who, having experienced hostility around immigration, chose to share their stories. In doing so they enabled the authors to amplify their voices and offer sharp focus on the issues surrounding refugees, asylum seekers and migrants (RASM). The structure and readability of the book makes much of the text accessible, enabling the reader to understand the need for solidarity with people affected by borders. Strong ethics are demonstrated in each chapter, with a consistent, hopeful message that social workers can make a difference in how they manage individual case work and by challenging oppressive, hostile practices, harmful organisational decision making and inhumane application of policies. This book makes it clear that social workers are positioned to see and understand what is happening to RASM though a unique lens. Communicating this perspective could change the way migrants are perceived and treated, but especially, the authors assert, if we use research in a way that informs social work education, direct practice, policies and politics. Presented as a collection of eleven essays, the book offers strong practice and research evidence to aid understanding and clarity regarding why people migrate, for instance poverty, war and persecution.