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"Anarchists in Social Work. Known to the Authorities". Published by Martin S. Gilbert, Ulverston, Cumbria, UK. 2004. Pbk. 253pp. illus. Bibliog.. ISBN 0-9549159-0-9. paper version £8.00; pdf £3.00 from www.anarchistsinsocialwork.org.uk 

This paperback contains a variety of items from Martin S. Gilbert, who also contributes the introduction, Mark E. Newns, Peter Good, John Evans and Doreen Frampton. Some have their first publication here, whilst others are reprints from magazine articles from Freedom and the Cunningham Amendment. Martin S. Gilbert provides the introduction and theoretical background article for this collection. 

Having given a brief run-down on his personal take on anarchist theory, Martin recounts his time spent in local government social work during the 1970 - 90's. I must say I was disappointed by the paucity of theoretical material, it being mainly confined to two collections of essays by edited by Roy Bailey and Mike Brake. Now I'm not claiming expert experience or knowledge of this area, but I would have thought that some reference to the work of Colin Ward might have been appropriate and the sociology of deviance material from the 60's - 70's. Not to mention more recent material (Foucault anyone?) 

Instead we are treated to several highly personal accounts of people's experiences in social and mental health care work from the practioners' perspectives. (It might have made for a more balanced account if people's experience as "clients" of social work could have found a place here. It is not surprising that most of the contributors found doing social and care work such a struggle. This is not a comment about them; rather the bureaucratic and governmental frameworks within which these forms of work have to be conducted are not conducive to an anarchist approach. Indeed it would appear that as time has gone by it has become increasingly difficult to undertake meaningful and empowering social work in the U.K. and it is not surprising that people have left this field of employment as it is so frustrating. 

However, as Peter Good's excellent essay reveals, it is not just local government that stands in the way of individuals and groups trying to make an improvement in their clients' quality of life. Peter, in the 1970's, more through luck than judgement, found himself elected as Branch Chairman of COHSE in a mental health facility in Lancashire. Conditions were in dire need of improving, especially in relation to working conditions, staffing levels and so forth. And, in the spirit of the times, the branch actually decided they'd had enough and something needn't to be done about things. 

Now, I won't spoil the tale by revealing too much. Let us just say, that it is an honest account of just how far you can take industrial action, with massive support from the membership (which increased spectacularly once it was realised that this time the union actually meant business.) And how management can make the life of a trade union official so difficult, can agree to anything as long as nothing has to change, and how, eventually, one can be sold out by a combination of one's own full-time union officials and the legal system, no matter how strong you think your case is. It comes as no surprise that Peter never worked in mental health afterwards. Quite simply he was blacklisted. 

Mark E. Newns contributes what could have been quite an interesting account of his experiences both in the UK and USA in various forms of social work. Sadly, what we are offered reads very much as a first draft. A few paragraphs read more as bulletin pints on a to do list, whilst others are punctuated in a Jackson Pollock style - full stops and commas are thrown at the text and where they stick they stay. Sorry but this should have been tidied up prior to being committed to print. The text also degenerates into a rant about cyberspace and such like in several places. 

Which is unfortunate as Mark's tale is an unusual one, as he gravitates away from humdrum social work into teaching tai-ji and holistic health methods to prisoners and older people among others. This he saw as empowering in an inner sense, as opposed to the more political structural and economic forms of empowering. One can argue that until people are empowered within themselves they cannot struggle on more systemic levels. But equally, it cannot be a substitute for political and economic change. 

John Evans' vignettes of attempting to do meaningful social work in the Welsh valleys is both amusing and saddening. John documents the endemic corruption and bureaucratic ineptness of much local government in Wales. The long-entrenched Labour Party functionaries who control much of this are, at best, well-meaning nobodies and at worst corrupt placemen (very few were women). What comes through time and again are the valiant attempts individuals have made to improve the lives of the clients - be they the mentally ill, the poor, the elderly and so on, - only to run up against brick walls and, increasingly, financial and bureaucratic restrictions imposed by central government. In addition, there is the simple fact that for many people they only way their lives could be improved is by them taking power into their own hands and insisting on a redistribution of wealth, meaningful work and the creation of genuine communities of equals where all are given equal respect. And no government is going to employ or fund people who intend doing that.

In many ways this book is a reminder of times gone by. If the 60's were the time of theoretical experimentation and radical challenge, then the 70's were the time when that struggle took place. By the mid-80's it was clear that the hopes had been dashed and everyone was making the best of a bad job. (Or no job in some cases!) All that seems to be left of contemporary social work are people whose first concern is their career and others still trying to be genuinely helpful to their clients in a context that does its best to frustrate that desire.

It's difficult to know whether to recommend this book. If you are of an anarchist mind, this will convince you that social work isn't going to be an easy ride, if you take your politics seriously. That's assuming anyone will employ you in the first place. As case studies the articles make for interesting reading, but the book lacks any proper in-depth theoretical material that will get it noticed by people outside the anarchist milieu. The problems that social work was created to ameliorate (never solve) are still with us. Whether it is a meaningful occupational choice of people will, I suspect depend on whether you can find a niche that allows for a degree of personal autonomy and one that delivers tangible benefits to the clients you are serving.

Best advice is to download the pdf version (saves five quid) and see if it's your cup of tea.

Richard Alexander

5/10