Rethinking Community Development

Communities are a continuing focus of public policy and citizen action worldwide. The purposes and functions of work with communities of place, interest and identity vary between and within contexts and change over time. Nevertheless, community development – as both an occupation and as a democratic practice concerned with the demands and aspirations of people in communities – has been extraordinarily enduring.

This book series aims to provide a critical re-evaluation of community development in theory and practice, in the light of new challenges posed by the complex interplay of emancipatory, democratic, self-help and managerial imperatives in different parts of the world. Through a series of edited and authored volumes, Rethinking Community Development will draw together international, cross-generational and cross-disciplinary perspectives, using contextual specificity as a lens through which to explore the localised consequences of global processes. Each text in the series will:

• • promote critical thinking, through examining the contradictory position of community development, including the tensions between policy imperatives and the interests and demands of communities.

• • include a range of international examples, in order to explore the localised consequences of global processes.

• • include contributions from established and up-and-coming new voices, from a range of geographical contexts.

• • offer topical and timely perspectives, drawing on historical and theoretical resources in a generative and enlivening way.

• • inform and engage a new generation of practitioners, bringing new and established voices together to stimulate diverse and innovative perspectives on community development.

If you have a broad or particular interest in community development that could be expanded into an authored or edited collection for this book series, contact: