Torture and terror post-9/11: The role of social work in responding to torture:
TL;DR: The authors argue that social work response to challenging pro-torture rhetoric has been limited at best, and to effectively address the problem there must be an international response if social work is to adhere to its obligations under the IFSW Code of Ethics, and fulfil its role as a human rights profession.
Abstract: Whilst terrorism is not a new global phenomenon, the fallout from the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US remain extensive and far reaching, including the sanctioning of harsher security measures and the denigration of human rights and civil liberties. Of particular concern is the move towards torture being an accepted practice for those deemed ‘terror suspects’ or captured ‘enemy’ combatants in countries where the so called ‘war on terror’ is still being played out. This article argues that the social work response, particularly in relation to challenging pro-torture rhetoric, has been limited at best, and to effectively address the problem there must be an international response if social work is to adhere to its obligations under the IFSW Code of Ethics, and fulfil its role as a human rights profession.
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TL;DR: In this book, Johnson primarily addresses a research audience, and his model seems designed to stimulate thought rather than to improve clinical technique, which suggests that lithium should have no therapeutic value in patients, such as those with endogenous depression, who already "under-process" cognitive information.
Abstract: basic research and clinical data in an attempt to derive a cohesive model which explains the behavioral effects of the drug. Johnson is an experimental psychologist, and his work underlies many of the chapters which suggest that lithium decreases the behavioral response to novel external stimuli. He then utilizes this foundation to propose a cognitive model for lithium's anti-manic action, its inhibition of violent impulsivity, and its prophylactic effects in recurrent depression. Previous formulations which were clinically based, such as that of Mabel Blake Cohen and her associates, stressed the primacy of depression and noted the \"manic defense\" as an attempt to ward off intolerable depression. In direct contrast, Johnson views mania as the primary disturbance in bipolar disorder. He considers depression in bipolar disease as an over-zealous homeostatic inhibitory responsf to a maniaassociated cognitive overload. Consistent with this, he believes, lit lum exerts its anti-manic effect by decreasing cognitive processing in a manner analogous to his animal studies. Johnson also suggests that lithium exerts its prophylactic effect in recurrent depressions by treating subclinical mania. These concepts are supported by the work of Johnson's associate, Kukopulos, to whom the book is dedicated. The bulk of the research which describes the cognitive disturbance in mania is complex, however, and uncomfortably open to multiple interpretations. Recognized as a preliminary effort, Johnson's formulation may help to guide further research. Although Johnson clearly traces lithium actions through a broad range of subjects, his discussion of the neurophysiological aspects of this drug is notably spotty. In particular, Johnson ignores the work of Svensson, DeMontigny, Aghajanian, and others who suggest that serotonergic systems may play an important role in the antidepressant actions of lithium. As a result, he fails to discuss one of the most important current uses of lithium: as an agent used in conjunction with antidepressant medications to increase treatment response in medication-resistant forms of depression. Lithium augmentation of antidepressant medication also challenges the formulation presented by Johnson. This formulation suggests that lithium should have no therapeutic value in patients, such as those with endogenous depression, who already \"under-process\" cognitive information. The omission of lithium augmentation in depression is clearly unfortunate in this text. Overall, this volume demonstrates the benefits of a single-authored text. It it clearly organized and readable. The bibliography is also broad and useful. In this book, Johnson primarily addresses a research audience, and his model seems designed to stimulate thought rather than to improve clinical technique. In this capacity, his book will be of most interest to behavioral psychologists. Other books, focusing purely on clinical data, may be more useful to clinicians. Nevertheless, the clear organization, the large bibliography, and the thoughtful presentation may make this text a useful addition to a clinical library as well.
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TL;DR: The second highest value of social work practice is social justice as discussed by the authors and social justice ranks as the second of five values that underpin the Code of Ethics of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Abstract: A cardinal value of social work practice is social justice. Social justice ranks as the second of five values that underpin the Code of Ethics of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW. However, although social work's commitment to promoting social justice is laudable and, indeed, may even be a distinguishing feature of the profession, precisely what kind of social justice does social work espouse? The answer to this question remains unclear. Views about the nature and scope of social justice stem from broader conceptions of justice that not only differ from, but may also conflict with, each other. Therefore, it is important not only for social work to be clear about the type of social justice that it currently advocates, but also to ensure that it is one that the profession seeks to defend and maximise. It is argued that the choice must be as egalitarian as possible. Indeed, it must be radically so. Otherwise, what is social work fighting for?
34 citations
"Torture and terror post-9/11: The r..." refers background in this paper
...Within this framework, having an understanding of human rights concepts is integral to exploring, naming and then responding to human rights abuses on a policy or macro-level (Barclay, 1998; Boulet, 2009; Briskman, 2010; Cohen et al., 2001; Dishon et al., 2009; Solas, 2000, 2008)....
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TL;DR: The idea of a "love of humanity" is a potent concept for challenging the dominant discourses of individual material wealth, greed and power as mentioned in this paper, which can be associated with the postmodern agenda of emancipation from oppressive discourses.
Abstract: The idea of a ‘love of humanity’, though largely absent from social work literature, is a potent concept for challenging the dominant discourses of individual material wealth, greed and power. It can be associated with the postmodern agenda of emancipation from oppressive discourses of professional ‘expertise’. Love, or a ‘love of humanity’, has the same intent as formulations of social work grounded in postmodern critical theory, but it uses a different language. It uses a language of lived experience and personal commitment - a language that appeals to our hearts -a language passionate about, and incorporating, human rights and social justice.
30 citations
"Torture and terror post-9/11: The r..." refers background in this paper
...Ignoring the broader issues such as torture and war is counterintuitive to the core goal of social work, which is to enhance well-being, promote change and social transformation (Morley and Ife, 2002)....
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...Central to human rights based social work is the idea of mutual trust in what Freire calls ‘the naming of the world’ (Freire, 1970; Morley and Ife, 2002)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the content and character of inter-and intra-societal relationships have been changed by globalization and its many faces, and a new kind of social work will have to embrace universalizatio...
Abstract: EnglishGlobalization and its many faces have essentially changed the content and character of inter- and intra-societal relationships. A new kind of social work will have to embrace universalizatio...
30 citations
"Torture and terror post-9/11: The r..." refers background in this paper
...…response to torture and the subsequent curtailment of human rights post-9/11 must be visibly challenged at an international level by social work as a human rights profession if it is to adhere to its obligations as outlined by the IFSW and re-align itself in a globalized world (Mohan, 2005, 2007)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the extent of torture worldwide, review the prevalence of torture survivors in the United States, and discuss populations most at risk and the effects of torture.
Abstract: Social work provides services to refugees and immigrants, the groups most likely to have been tortured, and despite this, the professional literature contains little information on torture or torture treatment. In this article, the authors discuss the extent of torture worldwide, review the prevalence of torture survivors in the United States, and discuss populations most at risk and the effects of torture. In the heart of the article, they discuss treatment considerations and resources for social workers involved with torture survivors. Working with survivors requires knowledge about human rights violations; identification of symptoms of torture and survivors reluctant to reveal this part of their past; community context and treatment environments; skills in healing trauma; advocacy; and brokering necessary medical, mental health, legal, and social services.
29 citations
"Torture and terror post-9/11: The r..." refers background in this paper
...Engstrom and Okamura (2004) note that social workers need to understand torture, not only because it impacts tens of thousands of people who they may work with, but also because the larger scale social impacts are often missed (Thomas, 2011)....
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...Given this, social work must have an understanding of the political context of torture, particularly in the post-9/11 setting (Engstrom and Okamura, 2004), and then situate itself in a broader global position and contest perspectives that help maintain and legitimize torture (Finn and Jacobson,…...
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...Given this, social work must have an understanding of the political context of torture, particularly in the post-9/11 setting (Engstrom and Okamura, 2004), and then situate itself in a broader global position and contest perspectives that help maintain and legitimize torture (Finn and Jacobson, 2003; Sewpaul, 2007)....
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TL;DR: While the war has grown deadlier for Afghan civilians over the past 2 years, ISAF has become a safer fighting force, and the clearest picture yet of the human cost of the war is provided.
Abstract: In January, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) provided Science with the military9s internal record of the death and injury of Afghan civilians, broken down by month, region, weaponry, and perpetrator. By its reckoning, 2537 civilians were killed and 5594 were wounded over the past 2 years, with 12% of those casualties attributed to ISAF forces and the rest to insurgents. In February, after learning that the military was releasing these data, both the United Nations and an Afghan human rights organization agreed to release versions of their own civilian casualty data to Science . Science assembled a team of experts to analyze the released data sets. They conclude that while the war has grown deadlier for Afghan civilians over the past 2 years, ISAF has become a safer fighting force. The majority of deaths, and nearly all of the recent increase, are attributed to indiscriminate attacks by insurgents rather than ISAF soldiers. All of these data, as well as other information never before released, are now freely available online. Taken together, they provide the clearest picture yet of the human cost of the war.
29 citations
"Torture and terror post-9/11: The r..." refers background in this paper
...Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of civilians have subsequently lost their lives in retaliatory attacks (Bohannon, 2011; Burnham et al., 2006; Moulton, 2004), there have been assassinations and mass assaults (Soherwordi and Khattak, 2011; Wolverton, 2011), thousands of people have been…...
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