Neoliberalism With a Community Face? A Critical Analysis of Asset-Based Community Development in Scotland

Abstract

In this article, we trace the ideological and social policy roots of asset-based community development (ABCD) in the United States and the United Kingdom, and explore how this approach has been legitimized in Scotland. We argue that ABCD is a capitulation to neoliberal values of individualization and privatization. Drawing on findings from our empirical work, we discuss how ABCD generates dilemmas for community development. Although some practitioners are able to adapt ABCD to focus on renewing Scottish democracy, several practitioners are using ABCD to privatize public issues such as inequality and justify dramatic cuts to the Scottish welfare state.

KEYWORDS:

• asset-based community development
• neoliberalism
• health inequalities
• social welfare
• social justice
• Scotland

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Lynne Friedli and the anonymous reviewers of the Journal of Community Practice for their valuable comments on an earlier draft of this article.