ABSTRACT
The slogans of the revolutionary movement of 1979 in Iran and the subsequent constitution of the new Islamic Republic indicated the popular demand for social justice and the growing welfare policies. However, the real history of the rule of revolutionary Islamists during the past four decades shows the step-by-step retreat from welfare policies and increasing privatisation of social services. The growing population in need of social protection, along with the decline of governmental social services, has made the need for social work services more urgent than ever. As part of the neoliberal policies, the political system presents non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as a replacement for the government in providing social welfare. Based on the views of Iranian social workers interviewed in this chapter, social work activities carried out by governmental organisations or NGOs are mainly market-oriented, limited to case-work tradition and ineffective. Therefore, the neoliberal government and its related NGOs have failed in promoting universal social welfare and social justice. These deficiencies indicate the necessity for a revolutionary social work, challenging established neoliberal discourses and practices, promoting social mobilisation, awareness-raising, attracting public support and endorsing solidarity between social workers and other civil society organisations.
