Advanced liberalism, (post)modernity and social work: Some emerging social configurations

The central focus of this paper is to analyze the nature of social work and social welfare in Britain and the Western World more generally. In the process it draws on perspectives in social theory associated with postmodernity, postmodernization and post- Fordism. It argues, however, that such approaches are both too sweeping and more appropriately understood as signifying the nature of current times rather than explaining them. The paper suggests that the current changes are better characterized in terms of advanced liberalism or extended liberal modernity.