ABSTRACT
This chapter explains social work in Scotland in a global context. Historically, Scotland as a nation has both shaped, and been shaped by, wider global developments. In Scotland, as in much of the rest of Europe, the past decade has been dominated by the politics of austerity. The chapter explores the ways in which neo-liberalism as ideology and policy has shaped social work in Scotland, focusing on the experience of social work with adults. The past few years have seen growing dissatisfaction across the globe with neo-liberal ideology and with the bitter fruits of neo-liberalism. The chapter focuses on the issue of asylum and immigration. The fact that statutory control over issues of asylum and immigration is not devolved to the Scottish Parliament but continues to lie with Westminster has limited the range of responses open to both the Scottish Government and Scottish social work services.
