ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a growth of interest in social work practice in social development, especially as this relates to international social work. In particular, attention is often focused on practice in areas of humanitarian aid in response to disasters and the impact of conflict. This chapter begins with the question of how concepts such as ‘aid’, ‘relief’ and ‘development’ are constructed as forms of ‘caring’. Behind this question lies the interconnection of a concern for others (‘caring about’) with actions that provide tangible responses to need (‘caring for’). The chapter explains these concepts and applies them critically to such practices, to look at the ways in which one approach to care can perpetuate neo-colonial social relations while at the same time providing necessary assistance. Using political ethics of care models, a more progressive approach to international social work and social development practice in humanitarian aid is argued. This analysis connects intentions and actions and proposes a notion of critical integrity as key to informing the way in which the provision of humanitarian aid can achieve both short- and long-term development goals. Such an understanding points towards the wider interlinked aims of ‘caring justly’ and achieving ‘care in justice’, which includes challenging oppressive international and inter-cultural relationships in social development practice.
