Theory and practice of dialogical community development: international perspectives / Peter Westoby and Gerard Dowling

Introduction 1. Re-Imagining Community Life and Community Work 2. Transformational Community Processes 3. Practitioner Analysis: Current Challenges and Ways Forward 4. Caring for Different Spheres of Community Life 5. Training for Transformation: the Possibilitators Conclusion: Enfolding Dialogical Community Development within a Tradition of Solidarity

Preface. Foreword. Introduction 1. Theoretical Prelude - an introduction to dialogue for community development 2. Re-imagining Community Practice 3. Transformational Community Processes 4. Analytical Interlude - What Weakens Dialogue Within Community Development 5. Caring for Different Spheres of Community Life 6. Dialogue and Training for Transformation Conclusion

This book identifies a dialogical tradition of community development and considers how such a tradition shapes practice within contemporary contexts and concerns ' economic, social, political, cultural and ecological. This tradition builds on key thinkers such as Martin Buber, Paolo Freire and J.P. Lederach and illuminates how their insights can shape the contours of practice. The book's approach contrasts with technical and instrumental approaches to development that fail to take complex systems seriously. It attempts to link theory to