Introduction

Abstract

Eradicating oppression and asserting their right to self-expression in a world that they control has become a key concern of peoples¹ across the globe as they engage with one another to realise their hopes for a better tomorrow. Their demands for autonomy and empowerment, coupled with the creation of more egalitarian social relations amongst and between different populations, have challenged prevailing definitions of citizenship and participation within the nation-state, including its welfare component, and civil society (Dominelli, 2000). Together, these forces have had a major impact on the theories and practices of the caring professions, of which social work is one.