SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND BLACK AFRICAN DIASPORA: Explorations in the Republic of Ireland

Some what different in focus to other chapters in the book, here we primarily dwell on the Black African diaspora in the Republic of Ireland. In this context, the chapter draws attention to the views of social work educators and our main interest is their perceptions in relation to four thematic concerns: social work education and theoretical perspectives; praxis; organisational structures within the capitalist racial state; neoliberalism. These interviews cannot, of course, be regarded as ‘representative’ of the ‘field’ of social work education in Ireland. Nonetheless, what the remarks of the respondents illustrate are certain interesting tendencies that signal causes for concern, and they also hint at directions for possible future studies. We reflect on such issues and also highlight other recent developments, including the 2021 launch of the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) ‘Anti-Racism Strategy’.