Disempowerment versus empowerment: Analyzing power dynamics in professional community development

Celina V. Tchida and Margaret Stout

Community Development, 2024, vol. 55, issue 3, 386-406

Abstract: Using a dimensions of power framework that integrates the theoretical work of Gaventa, Giddens, and Young, this paper unpacks the meanings of self-efficacy, solidarity, and agency in relation to different forms of power. These definitions: (1) reaffirm radical understandings of empowerment as an internal process for both individuals and groups, as well as a function of enabling institutional and societal structures, and (2) enable critical examination of the role of community development professionals in the pursuit of empowerment at these various levels of analysis. We begin with a critique of imposed, deficit-oriented approaches to community development and examine how mainstream practices have shifted intentions toward asset-oriented, participatory work within communities served, but even in the best circumstances fail to address underlying systemic barriers to empowerment and community well-being. Based on this analysis, we consider how these findings call for transformation of the role of professional community developers.

Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/15575330.2023.2247470 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:comdev:v:55:y:2024:i:3:p:386-406

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/RCOD20

DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2023.2247470

Access Statistics for this article

Community Development is currently edited by John Green, Rhonda Phillips and Anne Heinze Silvis

More articles in Community Development from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().