Community development today : taking stock

This paper examines some of the practices and assessments of community development today. It begins with two tales, one recounting the apparent unfulfilled policy promises for community development, the other recounting a situation where there is no community development policy agenda and no community development rhetoric, but where real grass roots community development is apparent. These two tales lead us to consideration of the nature of community development and the issue regarding the match between the discourses of community development with the practices. The paper moves to a discussion of reasons to celebrate community development in 2005. This discussion is followed by consideration of current contextual factors constraining the practices of community development. In the context of the arguments for optimism it is also important to recognise and reflect on the orthodoxies of community development. Six orthodoxies are discussed. The paper concludes with three practical suggestions for community development activities that could begin immediately.