| This paper seeks to explore the potential role of community development as a development approach. Recently, a resurgence of the community development method has begged the question- is this method a useful way to improve the situation of the world's poor? I attempt to answer the question by exploring the different ways "community development" is defined by non-governmental actors and by actors from large multilateral organizations such as the World Bank. The two main ideas behind community development, "participation" and "development", often vary in definition depending on the context. I compare and evaluate the goals of community development projects for their positive and negative aspects, in hopes of better understanding the potential role that community development can play in modern development plans. To illustrate the ideas, I utilize examples from my field research in Cochabamba, Bolivia. This paper concludes by arguing that, based on the success that has been achieved by organizations working toward community development, as well as the normative value in attempting this inclusive form, community development can and should have an important place in the future of development discourse. |
