Two The politics of deploying community
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Janet Newman
Abstract
This chapter offers an analysis of the very different political projects that mobilise ideas and practices of community development. However, it argues, such projects do not exist in any pure form but are subject to two crucial political processes. The chapter shows how ideas and practices of community development move across national and/or institutional boundaries, and are interpreted by mediating actors – including, but not only, community workers themselves (the politics of translation). It goes on to trace how some of the many possible meanings of ‘community’ and ‘development’ are selectively mobilised and articulated with other political concepts in ways that shape their meaning and that open – or close – political possibilities (the politics of articulation). Processes of articulation are never closed and complete, and the chapter shows how actors ’work the spaces’ of hegemonic projects to pursue alternative goals of development and democratization.
Abstract
This chapter offers an analysis of the very different political projects that mobilise ideas and practices of community development. However, it argues, such projects do not exist in any pure form but are subject to two crucial political processes. The chapter shows how ideas and practices of community development move across national and/or institutional boundaries, and are interpreted by mediating actors – including, but not only, community workers themselves (the politics of translation). It goes on to trace how some of the many possible meanings of ‘community’ and ‘development’ are selectively mobilised and articulated with other political concepts in ways that shape their meaning and that open – or close – political possibilities (the politics of articulation). Processes of articulation are never closed and complete, and the chapter shows how actors ’work the spaces’ of hegemonic projects to pursue alternative goals of development and democratization.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- Rethinking Community Development ix
- Acknowledgements x
- Notes on contributors xi
- Politics, power and community development: an introductory essay 1
-
Thinking politically
- The politics of deploying community 31
- Changing community development roles: the challenges of a globalising world 47
- Community organising and political agency: changing community development subjects in India 65
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Practising politics
- Identity politics, community participation and the making of new places: examples from Taiwan 85
- Community development, venture philanthropy and neoliberal governmentality: a case from Ireland 103
- A shifting paradigm: engendering the politics of community engagement in India 121
- The politics of diversity in Australia: extending the role of community practice 139
- The politics of environmental justice: community development in Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia 159
- The politics of democracy and the global institutions: lessons and challenges for community development 179
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Politicising the future
- Disability arts: the building of critical community politics and identity 199
- Service delivery protests in South Africa: a case for community development? 217
- Community development and commons: on the road to alternative economics? 235
- Index 253
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- Rethinking Community Development ix
- Acknowledgements x
- Notes on contributors xi
- Politics, power and community development: an introductory essay 1
-
Thinking politically
- The politics of deploying community 31
- Changing community development roles: the challenges of a globalising world 47
- Community organising and political agency: changing community development subjects in India 65
-
Practising politics
- Identity politics, community participation and the making of new places: examples from Taiwan 85
- Community development, venture philanthropy and neoliberal governmentality: a case from Ireland 103
- A shifting paradigm: engendering the politics of community engagement in India 121
- The politics of diversity in Australia: extending the role of community practice 139
- The politics of environmental justice: community development in Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia 159
- The politics of democracy and the global institutions: lessons and challenges for community development 179
-
Politicising the future
- Disability arts: the building of critical community politics and identity 199
- Service delivery protests in South Africa: a case for community development? 217
- Community development and commons: on the road to alternative economics? 235
- Index 253