Analysing Community Work: Theory and Practice

Community work is a unique and important activity that has the potential to help individuals, groups and communities achieve change. This brand new update of an established and acclaimed text explores and analyses different theoretical approaches to community work. Written in a highly accessible style, this book is grounded in practice issues and tackles political and theoretical issues head-on.

New to the second edition:

• Analysis of the work of New Labour
• Consideration of Coalition government policies, for example, the 'Big Society' project and the impact of budget cuts
• A new international dimension throughout the text, and an important new chapter on international community work
• New definitions of 'community' explored to take into account a diverse population
• Increased emphasis on community work values, skills and challenges
• Updated pedagogy, including end of chapter summaries and reflective questions
• References the latest writings in the field

Written by an established international expert, this book will be valuable for students on qualifying programmes, practitioners, policy makers and commentators, and those engaged in community work in all capacities.

"'Analysing Community Work' provided a key text, tackling issues of theory and practice in accessible ways for some two decades. This second edition builds upon the strengths of the first, updating the book to take account of the major changes that have been taking place since then, both in Britain and internationally. Popple’s critical consideration of the impacts of globalization, neo-liberalism, changing technologies, increasing inequalities and increasing concerns with environmental issues will be particularly welcomed. This edition will be essential reading for those who read and appreciated the first as well as for a new generation of readers."
Marjorie Mayo, Emeritus Professor of community development, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK

"Popple's book was one of the key overviews of British community work when it first appeared in 1995. In the last few years, the need for a revised and updated version has been increasingly obvious and Popple has now obliged. The last twenty years have seen substantial changes in the political, economic and organisational context within which community work operates and Popple has fully reflected this whilst remaining clear about its basic tenets and goals. This is a highly welcome addition to contemporary community work literature."
Gary Craig, Professor of Community Development and Social Justice, Durham University, UK

read more...