ABSTRACT
Social workers who focus on community- or organizational-based interventions, especially community action and change, will find perspectives like conflict theory useful. Their work can then inform work done on the micro level. Conflict theory is useful for understanding the different levels of social work and of the environment that may be the source of many client problems. Critical practice theory views social problems as caused by oppressive societal structures and the cultural and moral assumptions generated and maintained by dominant groups. Goals of this theoretical perspective in social work are to help clients overcome limits and the oppressive nature of the existing social order and to help clients, especially those who are marginalized, find and use their voices to create social change. The chapter offers specific examples of how functionalist theory can be applied to problems and issues and looks at the relevance of functionalist theory to social work.
