Populism, Democracy and Community Development

Description

With case studies from the US, UK, Latin America, Finland, Hong Kong and Indonesia, this book looks at constructions of populism from the left and right of the political spectrum and addresses the challenges for how community development can work with populist political forms and leaders. Using international perspectives and case studies, this book discusses the relationships between community development and populism in the context of today's widespread crisis of democracy. It investigates the development, meanings and manifestations of contemporary forms of populism and explores the synergies and contradictions between the values and practices of populism and community development. Contributors examine the ways that the ascendancy of right-wing populist politics is influencing the landscapes within which community development is located and they offer new insights on how the field can understand and respond to the challenges of populism.

Sue Kenny is Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin University. Jim Ife is a Professor of Social Work at Western Sydney University. Peter Westoby is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Queensland University, a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State and a Director with Community Praxis Co-operative.

"It is hard to do justice to such an important book dealing with the complex issues behind Populism's threat to democracy and the challenge of community development to respond." Jenny Onyx, University Technology Sydney "Liberal democracy and community development are under intense pressure by right-wing populism with its shifting contexts. Kenny, Ife and Westoby deftly navigate this complex terrain by presenting much needed perspectives for confronting challenges and moving society forward." Rhonda Phillips, Purdue University