La obra "Historia del Trabajo Social" de Eli Evangelista Martínez (publicada por Plaza y Valdés en México, 2001) no es solo un libro de texto; es una pieza fundamental para entender la evolución del pensamiento social en América Latina.
A continuación, exploramos los puntos clave que hacen de este texto una referencia obligatoria para estudiantes y profesionales. 1. El Enfoque Crítico de Eli Evangelista
A diferencia de otros autores que presentan la historia del Trabajo Social como una simple línea de tiempo de "buen samaritano", Evangelista Martínez propone una visión histórico-crítica. Para él, el Trabajo Social no nace solo de la caridad, sino de la necesidad del Estado y del sistema económico de gestionar las contradicciones sociales. 2. Contextualización en el México Moderno
Publicado bajo el sello de Plaza y Valdés en 2001, el libro llegó en un momento de transición política y social en México. El autor analiza cómo la profesión se consolidó en el país, pasando de ser una labor puramente asistencialista a una disciplina académica con bases científicas. 3. De la Beneficencia a la Profesionalización
Uno de los aportes más valiosos de esta edición es el análisis de las etapas:
La Etapa Pre-técnica: El legado de la caridad y la filantropía.
La Etapa Técnica: La influencia del modelo estadounidense y la llegada de los primeros métodos (Caso, Grupo y Comunidad).
La Etapa Científica y de Reconceptualización: El movimiento latinoamericano que buscó romper con el colonialismo intelectual y dotar a la carrera de un sentido político y transformador. 4. ¿Por qué es relevante el año 2001?
La edición de 2001 sirve como un "cierre de siglo". Permite evaluar el impacto de las políticas neoliberales en México durante los años 90 y cómo el trabajador social tuvo que adaptarse a un entorno donde los recursos públicos se reducían mientras las demandas sociales aumentaban. 5. Estructura y Estilo
El texto se caracteriza por ser riguroso pero accesible. Evangelista evita el lenguaje excesivamente técnico para que los estudiantes de los primeros semestres puedan comprender la importancia de su rol histórico. El autor argumenta que quien no conoce la historia de su profesión, está condenado a repetir sus errores técnicos y éticos. Conclusión
"Historia del Trabajo Social" de Eli Evangelista Martínez es una brújula. En sus páginas, el lector encuentra no solo fechas y nombres, sino una invitación a pensar el Trabajo Social como una herramienta de emancipación social. Si buscas entender el ADN de la intervención social en México, este libro de Plaza y Valdés es el punto de partida ideal.
¿Estás buscando este libro para un ensayo académico específico o para profundizar en algún periodo histórico particular?
Historia del Trabajo Social en México by Elí Evangelista Martínez, published by Plaza y Valdés
in coordination with the UNAM, is a foundational text that reconstructs the professional identity of social work from 1521 to the late 20th century.
Here is a story that captures the essence of this historical journey as presented in Evangelista's work: The Story of a Profession: From Charity to Social Justice
In the beginning, long before the term "Social Worker" existed, the roots of care in Mexico were planted in the soil of religious charity and colonial assistance
. From 1521 through the 1700s, helping the "other" was a mission of the Church, driven by faith rather than professional technique. La obra "Historia del Trabajo Social" de Eli
As Mexico moved toward independence and modern governance, these early forms of aid began to shift. By the early 1900s, a new spirit took hold. Inspired by female social reformers in the U.S. and Europe, a generation of Mexican women—like Julia Nava de Ruiz Sánchez —began to envision a formalized profession. The Turning Point (1933):
The year 1933 marked the official birth of the career with the founding of the first social work school, the Escuela de Enseñanza Doméstica . During the Cardenismo era
, the profession received a massive boost, moving from simple domestic support to a strategic tool for the State's social welfare policies. The Reconceptualization:
In the 1960s and 70s, the profession faced a crisis of identity. Practitioners realized they were often just "cogs" in a bureaucratic machine. They began to demand a shift from merely to actively transforming
society. Evangelista highlights this period as a "complex and contradictory" struggle to reconcile the profession's technical skills with its commitment to social justice.
Historia del trabajo social en México - Elí Evangelista Ramírez
In his influential work, Historia del trabajo social en México (2001, Plaza y Valdés), Elí Evangelista Martínez
offers a critical analysis of how the profession emerged not as a linear evolution of charity, but as a distinct construction of modernity.
The following paper explores his thesis, which frames Social Work as a practice deeply intertwined with the development of the Mexican State and its social policies.
The Evolution of Social Action in Mexico: An Analysis of Eli Evangelista’s Thesis 1. Beyond Charity: The Modern Construction of Social Work
Evangelista challenges the traditional narrative that Social Work is merely a technical upgrade of religious charity or philanthropy. Instead, he argues it is a category of historical modernity. This shift occurs when "social problems" are no longer seen as individual failures but as conceptual constructions requiring specialized state intervention. The author emphasizes that the profession’s identity is shaped by the interplay of political power, the development of social sciences, and the institutionalization of public assistance. 2. Historical Periods of Social Action (1521–1993)
Evangelista divides the history of social action in Mexico into four pivotal eras to trace the profession's roots and institutionalization:
Historia del trabajo social en México - Elí Evangelista Ramírez
In his seminal work Historia del Trabajo Social en México (first published in 1998 with subsequent updates), Elí Evangelista Martínez
provides a critical reconstruction of the profession's trajectory, moving beyond linear evolutionary narratives. Published by Plaza y Valdés in collaboration with the UNAM School of Social Work, the book argues that social work is a construction of modernity rather than a mere evolution of traditional charity. Key Thematic Framework
Evangelista challenges the "myth of origin" that links social work exclusively to religious charity or capitalist interests. Instead, he frames it as a complex, often contradictory discipline shaped by: Datos/metadatos requeridos
Political Power: The alignment of social action with state-led assistance policies.
Institutionalization: The shift from home visits and "gregarious survival instincts" to formalized social welfare systems.
Professional Identity: The role of women and the influence of social sciences in legitimizing the field. Historical Periodization
The author divides the development of Mexican social work into distinct chronological stages: 1521–1920
Forms of Aid & Social Action: From colonial charity and indigenous solidarity to post-independence welfare. 1920–1933
Antecedents: Early professionalization attempts following the Mexican Revolution, leading to the first school in 1933. 1934–1993
Historical Development: The consolidation of the profession under the Cardenismo era and its expansion during the "miracle" years. Modern Era
Reconceptualization: Critical reflection on the profession's methods and its role in a globalized, neoliberal context. Theoretical Contributions
Evangelista argues that social workers often suffer from a "blurring" of their professional identity because they are frequently viewed as mere administrators of institutional policy. He proposes a shift toward transmodernity, where the professional prioritizes social commitment over the individualistic "metanarratives" of traditional modernity. Legacy and Continued Study
Historia del trabajo social en México - Elí Evangelista Ramírez - Google Books
The book " Historia del Trabajo Social en México " by Elí Evangelista Martínez, published by Plaza y Valdés in co-edition with the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), is a fundamental text for understanding the evolution of the profession in the country.
While the first edition was released in 1998, a revised version appeared in 2001 (and later editions under the title "Desarrollo Histórico del Trabajo Social en México"), serving as a core academic guide. Core Content of the Guide
The book departs from traditional "linear" histories that link social work only to religious charity. Instead, Evangelista frames it as a product of modernity and the rise of the interventionist State. Historical Timeline Covered:
The Colonial Period (1521–1821): Analyzes early forms of "social aid" managed by the Spanish Crown and religious orders, such as hospitals and orphanages.
The Post-Revolutionary Era (1920–1933): Focuses on the institutionalization of social aid after the Mexican Revolution, leading to the first formal recognition of the profession.
The Professionalization Phase (1933–1993): Highlights the founding of the first school in 1933 (the Escuela de Enseñanza Doméstica) and the influence of the Cardenismo era in consolidating the field. Key Conceptual Themes: Estructura de capítulos y secciones del libro
The Modern Construct: Argues that social work is an academic discipline and practical profession that emerged to manage "the social question" through scientific methods.
Key Figures: Elena Landázuri is noted as a pioneer, along with the influence of women reformers from the US and Europe.
Paradigm Shifts: Discusses the transition from "charity" (religiously motivated) to "social assistance" (government-managed) to modern "Social Work" (scientific/interdisciplinary). Academic Significance
The text is frequently used to teach students how factors like geography, politics, and culture serve as either opportunities or barriers to human development. It also emphasizes that the history of social work in Mexico is "complex and contradictory," tied deeply to the shifting priorities of the Mexican State.
If you are looking for specific chapters or a deeper breakdown, I can:
Provide a detailed summary of the 1934–1993 development phase.
Compare his theoretical approach to other Latin American historians.
Help you find current editions or related conferences by Dr. Evangelista.
Eli Evangelista Martínez’s Historia del Trabajo Social (2001) represents a critical turning point in how the profession is understood in Latin America. Far from being a mere chronological list of dates, his work serves as a sociopolitical autopsy of the discipline, dissecting its transition from religious charity to a structured scientific practice. By analyzing the evolution of social work through the lens of Mexican and Latin American history, Martínez challenges the Eurocentric narratives that traditionally dominated the field.
The core of Martínez’s thesis lies in the rejection of "asidua" or passive history. He argues that social work did not emerge in a vacuum but as a direct response to the "social question"—the tension between capital and labor during the rise of industrial capitalism. In the Mexican context, this was heavily influenced by the aftermath of the Revolution. Martínez details how the state began to institutionalize social assistance, moving away from the Catholic Church’s monopoly on "charity" toward a secular, state-led "social welfare." This shift transformed the social worker from a "lady of charity" into a technical agent of the state, tasked with maintaining social order while addressing the needs of the marginalized.
A significant portion of the essay explores the period of "Reconceptualization" during the 1960s and 70s. Martínez views this as the most intellectually vibrant era for the profession. Influenced by Marxist theory and the pedagogy of Paulo Freire, social workers in Latin America began to question their role as mere "palliative" agents. They sought to move beyond clinical or functionalist approaches—which aimed to help individuals "adjust" to an unequal society—toward a transformative practice. Martínez emphasizes that this movement turned the social worker into a political actor, focused on conscientization and the structural transformation of society.
Furthermore, Martínez addresses the professionalization of the discipline within the academy. He highlights the creation of the first schools of social work in Mexico, such as the one at the UNAM, and how the curriculum evolved to include sociology, economics, and psychology. However, he warns against "technicism"—the danger of becoming so focused on bureaucratic tools and methodology that the human and political essence of the work is lost. For Martínez, history is a tool for the present; understanding the struggles and shifts of the past is the only way to navigate the neoliberal challenges of the 21st century.
In conclusion, Eli Evangelista Martínez’s work is a call to professional consciousness. He posits that the history of social work is a history of power, resistance, and identity. By documenting the move from charity to professional intervention and finally to political engagement, he provides a roadmap for modern practitioners. The "fixed" or definitive nature of this history lies in its ability to ground the profession in its specific regional reality, ensuring that social work remains a dynamic force for justice rather than a static tool of administration.
The book is organized methodically, typically covering four major historical periods. Evangelista Ramírez’s key contribution is how she "fixes" (stabilizes and clarifies) the timeline of Mexican social work, which was previously fragmented.
Overview: A feature for academic platforms (like Moodle, Canvas, or a digital library) that automatically parses a bibliographic string, identifies the work, and generates a "Knowledge Card" containing metadata, availability, and study tools.