Community Development as Social Movement: A Contribution to Models of Practice

Abstract

Community development practice includes the self-help, technical assistance and conflict models. Although instructive, this realm of practical theorizing might be reinvigorated by directing attention to the work that people engage in collectively to impact community life. Approaching community development from an action-oriented direction requires that we borrow from, synthesize and augment existing theoretical perspectives within the realm of social movements, including those focused on political-economic constraints and opportunities, resource mobilization and organization, and framing of grievances and collective action. This approach will help to inform researchers, community development practitioners and policymakers to better understanding the enterprise of intentional social change at the local level. Additionally, it holds promise for those scholars engaged in applied research with change initiatives who want to pursue a more critical assessment of community development work.

Keywords:

• models of practice
• social movements
• theory