Malcolm Carey
Papers
1
Total Citations
26
H-Index
1
About
Malcolm Carey is a leading scholar in the sociology of social work, whose research critically examines the impact of neoliberal reform on state social work in Britain. His work prominently draws on labor process theory, particularly the ideas of Harry Braverman, to analyze the deprofessionalization and deskilling of social workers. In his highly cited 2009 paper, “'It’s a Bit Like Being a Robot or Working in a Factory': Does Braverman Help Explain the Experiences of State Social Workers in Britain Since 1971?” (26 citations), Carey argues that decades of market-driven reforms have transformed social work from an aspiring profession into a marginalized, routinized function within a shrinking welfare state. Through this lens, he has made major contributions to understanding how privatization and managerialism erode professional autonomy and discretion. His work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the political economy of care, the sociology of professions, and the lived realities of frontline social workers navigating increasingly bureaucratic and factory-like conditions.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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