Welfare Reform on the Web (July 2006): Community regeneration and development - overseas
Beyond political zoology: community development, civil society and strong democracy
F. Powell and M. Geoghegan
Community Development Journal, vol.41, 2006, p.128-142
Article posits three models of development: market-led, state-led and community-led. It notes that the state-led model of development has been eclipsed following the fall of communism in Europe and the crisis in social democracy. The dynamic of development has shifted in a globalised world to a resurgent market guided by an uncompromising neoliberalism. However an alternative, community-led model based upon the principles of participative democracy, civic republicanism and sustainable development is emerging within civil society. Paper makes a political assessment of the meaning and role of community development in this new world order. It can be viewed as either a manifestation of “Third Way” politics or as part of the emergence of a “social left” that is reinventing politics by reclaiming civil society.
Human rights and community work: complementary theories and practices
J. Ife and L. Fiske
International Social Work, vol.49, 2006, p.297-308
Much effort has been devoted to developing international understandings of human rights, without corresponding attention to human responsibilities. The authors argue that placing human rights implementation in a community development framework may redress this imbalance by emphasizing the community’s responsibility for protecting the rights of its members.
Meta-analysing community development projects in Aotearoa New Zealand
A. Greenaway and K. Witten
Community Development Journal, vol.41, 2006, p.143-159
Community action, a strategy for creating community-based change towards social and environmental policy objectives, is growing in popularity with the current Labour government in New Zealand. This paper reports on a meta-analysis of ten community action projects. The analysis identified a set of key principles fundamental to the success or failure of the projects at their activation, consolidation and completion phases. The achievement of change objectives through community action requires power dynamics between stakeholders to be recognised and relationships between individuals, groups and organisations to be transformed.
Non-formal education and community development in Senegal
M. Kuenzi
Community Development Journal, vol.41, 2006, p.210-222
This paper explores the relationship between non-formal education (NFE) and community participation and development in rural Senegal. Non-formal education is typically carried out in African languages and intended to reflect the culture and needs of the learners. The facilitator is often from the village where the class is being held. Participatory methods are stressed, and often such programmes have the goal of empowering the target population. This article presents the results of a survey involving a probability sample of 1484 Senegalese citizens and in-depth individual and group interviews. It was found that those with NFE are more likely than those without NFE to report: 1) co-operating with others to solve community problems; 2) belonging to a community organisation; 3) holding a leadership position within an organisation; 4) attending and speaking out at organisational meetings; and 5) getting together with others to raise an issue.
Social capital, the social economy and community development
A. Kay
Community Development Journal, vol.41, 2006, p.160-173
This article defines social capital and shows its importance in developing the social economy and the increasing role that it plays in the understanding of community development, based on the findings of a three-year research project (CONCISE Project) which looked at the contribution of social capital in the social economy to local economic development in Western Europe.