Taking a critical-thinking approach, describes and analyzes social work and social welfare within the framework of American political belief systems to help students put social work practice into context. The thoroughly updated features an increased focus on social work practice throughout the text and in two new chapters (Chs. 1 and 5) while continuing to examine the most up-to-date issues in the politics of social welfare. The 9th Edition adds discussions of the progressive and radical perspective on social welfare in addition to liberal and conservative positions. It also features new discussions on a wide range of issues that include intersectionality, poverty and inequality, restorative justice, and the opioid epidemic.