Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2002): Community Regeneration and Development - Overseas

ACHIEVING SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ESTATE REGENERATION: THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL IMAGE CONSTRUCTION

K. Arthurson

Housing Studies, vol. 16, 2001, p. 807-826

Paper explores questions about physical image construction in six Australian estates undergoing regeneration. Whilst improved housing amenity and image of the areas are crucial components of estate regeneration, it is argued that these aspects will not automatically benefit existing disadvantaged residents. Three questions are raised:

• in whose images are these estates being recreated, housing authorities, private property developers, or residents?
• whether the physical images are being imposed or agreed democratically and used for community development?
• what the overall consequences and housing policy implications are likely to be?

THE MALAWI SOCIAL ACTION FUND AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

P. Kishindo

Community Development Journal, vol. 36, 2001, p. 303-311

The Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) was launched in 1996 to provide funding for projects designed to develop the social infrastructure of deprived rural communities. There is competition for funds, and this introduces the danger that communities lacking effective leaders may lose out in the bidding process. In its present form MASAF widens the imbalance in the provision of health, education and social services.

SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY STRATEGIES: NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN GUATEMALA CITY

E. Grant

Development and Change, vol. 32, 2001, p. 975-997

Article attempts to discover and analyses the strategies used by two low income communities in Guatemala City to improve their physical and social environment. Key strategies for development were found to be mobilisation through community organisation, informal links (including clientelistic relations) with powerful groups, and protest. Author concludes that social capital and some degree of security of land tenure are critical ingredients for communities to develop effective development strategies.