Promises and Dilemmas of Participation: Action Research, Search Conference Methodology, and Community Development

Abstract

Participatory approaches currently occupy a prominent position in community development practice. However, despite the claims made for the benefits of participation for community members and practitioners alike, critical reflections on how participatory approaches shape the longer-term processes of community development have been relatively few. This scarcity ultimately results in a shortage of knowledge about the best practices and potential pitfalls of these approaches. This paper attempts to fill this gap through a case study assessment of two socially and organizationally distinct communities and their use of Action Research (AR) strategies, including the Search Conference, as participatory-based approaches to community strategic planning and action. We find that while Search Conferences and AR strategies effectively identified important community issues and provided an initial catalyst for community action, each case also illustrates how organizational dilemmas and pre-existing local power structures challenge some of the basic assumptions of participation. The implications for community development practice are discussed.