Understanding Community: Politics, Policy and Practice (Understanding Welfare: Social Issues, Policy and Practice) - Hardcover

Somerville, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 144731607X ISBN 13: 9781447316077

Publisher: Policy Press, 2016

Synopsis

Understanding Community is a practical guide to understanding policies and underlying theories relating to community. This substantially revised edition draws upon theories from Marx and Bourdieu to offer a clearer understanding of community in capitalist society. Peter Somerville presents a close examination of government policies in areas such as economic development, education, health care, housing, and safety and sets them in the context of our understanding of crucial concepts like community cohesion, social capital, and capacity building. The book also explores the dark side of community to show how phenomena such as riots, gangs, and terrorism can be understood as expressions of alternative ways to organize in search of community. The result is a book that challenges our understanding of community and assesses the strengths and limitations of our conceptual framework for thinking about and working with communities.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Somerville is professor of social policy and director of the Policy Studies Research Centre at the University of Lincoln in England.

Review

"In the second edition of his Understanding Community, Somerville sets out to restore rigour to the language of community, rendering it once again a purposeful analytical framework as well as a realizable social goal." (Quintin Bradley, Leeds Beckett University Housing Studies)

“Theory, policy, politics, and practice are all woven thoughtfully together in this impressive account: it should be a must-read for anyone concerned with getting to the core of the relationship between the state and its subjects.” (Social Policy and Administration)

"It is topical, well referenced and contains plenty to consider. . . . A useful text for those studying social policy, sociology, community development, urban regeneration and social work." (Journal of Social Policy, on first edition)

"An exhilarating discussion, which opens up new ways of thinking about an old problem." (Journal of Regional Science, on first edition)

“Not only extremely valuable as a resource for students, but also a powerful contribution to debates about the nature of community and its potential as a driver of political and social change.” (Allan Cochrane, Open University)

“Radically develops ideas explored in the first edition, integrating wide-ranging and nuanced theoretical investigation with compelling argument for the possibility of ‘beloved community’ and a way beyond the austerity consensus.” (Jonathan Davies, De Montfort University)

About this edition

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 144731607X
• ISBN 13: 9781447316077
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 272