DVA2602
Assignment 2:
Title: An analysis of the debate on the concepts of ‘community’ and
‘community development’.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page number
1. Introduction.....................................................................................................2
2. The concept of community.............................................................................3
2.1 Difficulties explaining the meaning of community......................................3
3. The concept of community development........................................................4
3.1 Difficulties explaining the meaning of community development.................5
3.2 A historical background of community development...................................6
4. The meaning of community and community development over the years.....7
5. Conclusion......................................................................................................8
6. Bibliography....................................................................................................9
1
, 1. Introduction
At first sight the concepts of community and community development seem to
have universal and straightforward meanings. In fact, most members of the
general public would believe these concepts to be quite self-explanatory.
However, upon further academic inspection it becomes clear that the wide use
of these concepts has produced as many definitions as the number of
disciplines they have been applied to.
The quest for a definitive and universal meaning of these concepts has been
elusive in nature and has yet to produce a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.
Consequently a debate has arisen amongst scholars in the fields of Social and
Political Sciences regarding the true meaning of the concepts of community
and community development.
Accordingly, a large amount of literature on these concepts has been published
over the years. This fact greatly assists us as students of Development Studies
in our task of having to construct our own consciousness and understanding of
important concepts relating to our discipline. The completion of this task will
enable us to perform our future responsibilities as development practitioners to
the best of our abilities.
It is for this reason that I would like to analyse the debate on the concepts of
community and community development. This analysis will consist of a
critical discussion on the different meanings of both concepts as well as the
difficulties encountered in explaining their meanings. This will be followed by
a historical background of community development as well as a critical
discussion regarding the evolution of the meaning of both concepts.
2
Assignment 2:
Title: An analysis of the debate on the concepts of ‘community’ and
‘community development’.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page number
1. Introduction.....................................................................................................2
2. The concept of community.............................................................................3
2.1 Difficulties explaining the meaning of community......................................3
3. The concept of community development........................................................4
3.1 Difficulties explaining the meaning of community development.................5
3.2 A historical background of community development...................................6
4. The meaning of community and community development over the years.....7
5. Conclusion......................................................................................................8
6. Bibliography....................................................................................................9
1
, 1. Introduction
At first sight the concepts of community and community development seem to
have universal and straightforward meanings. In fact, most members of the
general public would believe these concepts to be quite self-explanatory.
However, upon further academic inspection it becomes clear that the wide use
of these concepts has produced as many definitions as the number of
disciplines they have been applied to.
The quest for a definitive and universal meaning of these concepts has been
elusive in nature and has yet to produce a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.
Consequently a debate has arisen amongst scholars in the fields of Social and
Political Sciences regarding the true meaning of the concepts of community
and community development.
Accordingly, a large amount of literature on these concepts has been published
over the years. This fact greatly assists us as students of Development Studies
in our task of having to construct our own consciousness and understanding of
important concepts relating to our discipline. The completion of this task will
enable us to perform our future responsibilities as development practitioners to
the best of our abilities.
It is for this reason that I would like to analyse the debate on the concepts of
community and community development. This analysis will consist of a
critical discussion on the different meanings of both concepts as well as the
difficulties encountered in explaining their meanings. This will be followed by
a historical background of community development as well as a critical
discussion regarding the evolution of the meaning of both concepts.
2
