Two community councils in England (Middlesbrough and Islington) used very different organizational models in implementing decentralization and democratization policies. Both communities considered community development and participation central to the success of the policies. (SK)

Empowerment for disadvantaged communities is complex; issues involved are defining community, conflicts of interest, equating populism with empowerment, and viewing it as zero-sum. Given these impediments and the nature of disadvantage, community development should conduct rational analyses of need, continue dialog with community interests, and…

The Sheffield (England) City Council used an advisory group approach to solicit citizen participation in community planning. Two important lessons were: ensuring that all target groups are represented and providing training and information to prepare citizen representatives for their consulting role. (SK)

Despite the newly decentralized local government system in Ghana, communities have been slow to develop broad-based participatory consultative processes for community development. Inflexible bureaucracy also hinders involvement of stakeholders. (SK)

The author discusses ritual as a process of creating social frameworks through the mobilization of communal sentiment and purpose. He presents a case study in which the ritual process was applied by an external change agent to develop social partnerships and local support for the establishment of a community center. (SK)

The article describes the contributions of social work in two areas, in grass roots community organization and in social planning. As a partial response to the growing connection between the two areas, the writers have attempted to adapt the community organization curriculum of a professional school of social work. (Author/AG)

Examines the case for the integration of community development and local government in Nigeria and attempts to appreciate the nature of the reforms envisaged under the 1976 Reform. Secondly, the authors examine the post-reform developments; finally, they make an assessment of the present situation. (CT)

An action learning project for neighborhood regeneration in Coventry, England, showed that differences of power and viewpoint were inevitable and essential. More open networks enabling communication among community groups were needed. Funding for community networking needed to go beyond short-term projects supported by the current policy agenda.…

British local authority and decision making procedures are described for community developers. Included are potential ways of influencing the authority system, and problems and areas of weakness that may be encountered in dealing with the system. (ABM)