THE LEGACY OF MCCARTHYISM ON SOCIAL GROUP WORK - AN HISTORICAL-ANALYSIS

This paper explores the impact of McCarthyism on the ideology, educati on, practice, and public image of group work. The authors argue that t he witchhunts that occured during the period and ifs climate of widesp read fear purges and political conservatism diminished the gains the s ocial work profession had made in the 1930s and 1940s through its part icipation in progressive activities and left the profession, particula rly social group work ill-prepared for the issues and activism of the 1960s and 1970s.