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Working with communities-of-place: Complexities of empowerment

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  • Sarah Skerratt
  • Artur Steiner

Abstract

Recent legislative and other policy-related developments seek to enhance local agenda-setting through empowered communities. However, community development is separated from community empowerment , thus implicitly supporting a more uncritical perspective of empowerment processes. In this article we: (1) focus on communities who do not engage; (2) identify in-community sub-groups and differences as the norm rather than exception; (3) recognise the backwards and forwards motion of community development processes; (4) identify the fluidity of in-community interests and powers; and (5) recognise differences between individual and community-level aspirations. We use evidence from a development project which targets communities that do not engage. Based on interviews with the project manager, project officer, and 155 community members, we conclude that: demoting capacity-building betrays an intrinsic and naïve belief in self-fulfilling processes of community empowerment, rather than acknowledgement of complexities; there is a need, therefore, to remain sceptical in order that analyses are sensitive to complexities of empowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Skerratt & Artur Steiner, 2013. "Working with communities-of-place: Complexities of empowerment," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 28(3), pages 320-338, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:28:y:2013:i:3:p:320-338
    DOI: 10.1177/0269094212474241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. P. Mackelworth & H. Carić, 2010. "Gatekeepers of island communities: exploring the pillars of sustainable development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 463-480, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Navío-Marco, Julio & Arévalo-Aguirre, Adrian & Pérez-Leal, Raquel, 2018. "WiFi4EU: Techno-economic analysis of a key European Commission initiative for public connectivity," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184973, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    2. Salemink, Koen & Strijker, Dirk, 2018. "The participation society and its inability to correct the failure of market players to deliver adequate service levels in rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 757-765.
    3. Berka, Anna L. & Creamer, Emily, 2018. "Taking stock of the local impacts of community owned renewable energy: A review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3400-3419.
    4. Navío-Marco, Julio & Arévalo-Aguirre, Adrian & Pérez-Leal, Raquel, 2019. "WiFi4EU: Techno-economic analysis of a key European Commission initiative for public connectivity," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 520-530.

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