Community Development and Citizen Participation - - Friend or Foe?

Abstract

This paper explores how to obtain community development goals while operating within the constraints of the citizen participation of federal programs. It indicates the minimum prerequisites for participation by the bureaucracy and by citizens in a special citizen participation system. It considers to what extent seven elements of the community development process can be achieved within the constraints of citizen participation: Taking a wholistic approach,Involving the entire community,Participation of people in goal setting,Self help,A rational and experimental approach,Necessary use of outside experts and materials,Emphasis on the process as well as the product. The paper suggests approaches to maximize the potential for achieving each element. It surveys the number and types of programs where such possibilities exist. It concludes that the practitioner can achieve many of his goals providing he selects his program and approaches carefully.