Harmful, helpful, or both? A commentary on postmodernism and critical theories in community development education

ABSTRACT

In this relatively informal commentary, I discuss the potentially helpful and harmful roles that postmodernism and critical theories have in academia in general and particularly in community development scholarship and pedagogy. After introducing postmodernism and critical theories as well as some of the common criticisms of these frameworks, I discuss the importance of cultural capital in community development and how postmodernism and critical theories can protect and maintain cultural capital as well as damage and diminish it. I also discuss the importance of ensuring students in community development courses understand these frameworks and understand that they are but some of the theories and skills students will need to know to be effective and ethical community development scholars and practitioners. The duty of educators is to ensure that students have the abilities and support to do the hard work of critically evaluating and analyzing all viable approaches to community development work.

KEYWORDS:

• Critical theories
• postmodernism
• pedagogy
• cultural capital
• cultural imperialism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).