Ethics Alive! Social Work Values and Roles in Times of War

by Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD

     In times of war, terrorism, and violence, many people grapple with a broad range of emotions, including shock, grief, anxiety, despair, fear, anger, and the desire for vengeance. As social workers, it is crucial for us to recognize these emotions in ourselves and manage them effectively. We need to ensure that they do not negatively affect our professional judgment and interactions. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of professional social work, allowing us to acknowledge our feelings and their potential influence on our decisions. In addition, cultivating mindfulness of our emotions is essential for our own well-being.

     By understanding how our emotions affect us, we can employ various self-care strategies, such as reflective journaling, stress-reduction exercises, meditation, affirmations, exercise, supervision, and therapy. These practices not only help us to maintain our emotional equilibrium, but also help us sustain our compassion and provide effective, respectful services with our clients, workplaces, and communities.

When Violence Erupted

     On October 7, 2023, Hamas killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 240 people, and committed various acts of sexual assault and torture. In the aftermath of this violence, it was not surprising that Israel would strike back. For Israelis, the incursion into Gaza may be viewed as an act of self-defense, dismantling the infrastructure in Gaza that Hamas has used as a launchpad for violence and terrorism directed toward Israel. For Palestinians living in Gaza, the incursion has meant thousands of deaths, more than one million people displaced, and a humanitarian crisis resulting from lack of basic needs, such as food, clean water, medical care, and safety. As Hamas has continued to send missiles into Israel, the Israeli Defense Force has continued to use military force in an attempt to eradicate the threats that Hamas poses to Israel. As the violence and loss of life continue, the prospect of peace seems ever more elusive.

Despite the Violence

     Despite the escalation of war, turmoil, and destruction, there is hope (Daniel, 2023). Hope is the belief that things will get better. Hope is a survival skill. Hope serves as a source of inspiration, reminding us of the need to take action to make things better. Things will not simply improve on their own; we need to do something different. We need to take action to ensure not only a cessation of violence, but also a true peace, with security, respect, freedom, and justice for all.

Social Work Roles

     So, what relevance does this conflict hold for us as social workers in the United States, thousands of miles away? The repercussions of the war in Gaza and Israel are far-reaching. People around the globe are affected—personally; through family; and through cultural, religious, and political affiliations. Many people have strong opinions about who is to blame, what should be done to fix the situation, and who should be punished or reprimanded. Many people are expressing strong views in public forums—in protests and demonstrations, on social media, in political debates, and on college campuses. Although free expression is a hallmark of an open and democratic society, much of the public discourse has inflamed conflict rather than promoting peace.

     Incidents of antisemitic and anti-Islamic hate have been on the rise in the United States and in many other countries. White supremacists and neo-Nazi groups have seized on the violence in Gaza-Israel to aggravate conflict—not only between Jewish people and Muslims, but also between Jewish people, Black people, and other people of color. Deep divisions are not only arising between different cultural and religious groups, but also within various families, organizations, and communities. As social workers living in the United States, we cannot create sustained peace in the Middle East. However, we can play vital roles in fostering peace within our own communities. Peace begins with us. Even relatively small acts of peacebuilding can have significant impacts.

     To start, we need to examine our own thoughts, feelings, and biases. What are our own histories; social locations; and cultural, ethnic, and spiritual affiliations? How have they shaped our views of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? After critically examining our own views and reactions to this conflict, how can we find the space within our hearts and souls to remain open to hearing the experiences, views, and reactions of others?

     The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is complex. It is vital that we are open to hearing various perspectives, being present, and holding space without judging their thoughts or feelings. While we may hold strong positions of support for Palestinians or Israelis, advocating for one group’s rights should not necessitate diminishing the rights of the other. The road to peace, both here and abroad, hinges on recognizing the legitimacy of all parties’ rights and interests.

The Roles of Empathy and Respect

     As social workers, we take pride in our ability to demonstrate empathy and respect, irrespective of our personal opinions or biases. We understand the importance of demonstrating empathy and respect as essential to building trust and collaborative relationships with clients or others. We  appreciate the importance of demonstrating empathy and respect with others, regardless of whether we agree with their perspectives. Respect is a core social work value (NASW, 2021).

     We understand that different people have views about the conflict, including what historical factors have contributed to the conflict and current narratives of what the conflict is about. Empathy and respect are vital elements of peace work. When engaging with someone who is expressing strong and perhaps even repulsive feelings about one side of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, we can tune in, ask clarifying questions, and reflect back what we understand about their stories and opinions. As we engage, we need to be aware of our emotions, being careful not to allow anger, frustration, or other strong emotions to impede our ability to show understanding. Building trust is essential to peace work. It creates a foundation for challenging and constructive conversations, and it is a precursor to effective problem solving and conflict resolution.

     Having empathy and respect for all does not mean that we are neutral or value free. We can possess strong interests in fairness, safety, and security and still maintain empathy and respect with people who possess conflicting interests or motivations. As we engage in peace-minded discussions, we choose our words carefully. We avoid labeling Palestinians or Israelis as monsters, vermin, or using other dehumanizing labels. We encourage others to demonstrate empathy and respect with everyone affected by the conflict. Israelis and Palestinians have both endured extreme losses, trauma, bigotry, fear, and suffering. We understand that the path to peace will not be easy for either group. A continued path of violence, however, means that loss, trauma, bigotry, fear, and suffering will continue to grow.

Actions With Tangible Impact

     In the midst of war, we may wonder what we can do that will have tangible effects. Certainly, promoting empathy and respect can mitigate divisive and dehumanizing discourse. In turn, this can help reduce violence against Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, and others in our own country. We can also promote peace by engaging with organizations that contribute to peace:

• Humanitarian organizations that provide food, medicine, shelter, and other basic needs;
• Interfaith groups that bring together people of different faiths for dialogue and action;
• Refugee assistance programs that provide resources and support for people who have been displaced by war and violence;
• Mental health services that provide crisis intervention and therapeutic services to people who are experiencing trauma, depression, or anxiety as direct or indirect consequences of war and violence;
• Professional associations that support the important contributions of Palestinian and Israeli social workers;
• Educational programs that focus on conflict resolution, mediation, compassionate listening, peace studies, diversity, and intercultural understanding;
• Research institutes that focus on peace and conflict resolution;
• News organizations committed to responsible, respectful, and truthful reporting of conflicts; and
• International organizations that promote democracy, civil society, and development of social and political infrastructure to sustain peace.

The Path Ahead

     Navigating the path to peace, though challenging, is a crucial journey. As social workers, we are equipped with an array of skills, values, and resources that are well-suited to fostering peace and respect for the dignity and worth of all people. In the midst of violent conflict, we must be particularly aware of our own thoughts and feelings, maintaining our own emotional balance, and ensuring that our biases do not compromise our ability to conduct ourselves in an intentional, constructive manner. The prospect of peace may seem daunting. It may seem easier to simply remain silent than to engage with others, particularly when we have concerns about how they will react.

     As Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other peace activists have exemplified, we are capable of being catalysts for the change that we seek in the world. Although individual acts of empathy and respect might seem minor in isolation, our combined acts of empathy and compassion can have a significant influence on the journey to peace, locally and globally.

     The Social Work Leadership Roundtable (2023) said in its Joint Statement on Peace for Israel and Palestine:

     We extend our deepest support to social workers in Israel and Palestine and hope that they will find ways to support each other in establishing peaceful relationships; countering genocide; and ensuring safety, dignity, and well-being of people. We affirm our belief in people’s right to a dignified life free from fear, and hope for peace among Israelis and Palestinians and all peoples.

References

Daniel, A. (2023). The Israel-Hamas war has not quashed their compassion, their empathy, their hope. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/11/05/1209976575/israel-hamas-war-hope-empathy-personal-stories

National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. (2021). Code of ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Social Work Leadership Roundtable [American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, Association of Social Work Boards, Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Council on Social Work Education, Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work, Grand Challenges for Social Work, National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, National Association of Social Workers, Social Work Collective to Advance Research: Deans & Directors Group, Society for Social Work and Research]. (2023). Joint statement on peace for Israel and Palestine. https://www.cswe.org/news/newsroom/social-work-leadership-roundtable-joint-statement-on-peace-for-israel-and-palestine

Acknowledgment: Many thanks to David B. Wohlsifer, PhD, LCSW, for his feedback and suggestions for this article.

Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD, is Professor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University and author of  Social Work Values and Ethics (Oxford University Press).

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of any of the organizations to which the author is affiliated, or the views of  The New Social Worker magazine or White Hat Communications.

Submitted November 24, 2023.