PRINCIPLE OFCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ( (CDS 301

What is the community?

A community is a group. It possess all the characteristics of a group. A group is: 1. Composed of people 2. In interaction 3. Together physically 4. With common interests or goals.

A group is
It is composed of people in communication, who have common interests or ties. Membership of the community is based on locality. As long as your residence is at that particular place, you are a member. Community is the place where we live our lives on a day-to- day basis. It is the locality from which we experience the events of the larger world around us.

Historical outline of community- (see notes)

Since the 19th Century term associated with hope or wish of re-cultivating bonds of closeness, harmony between people as experienced in the past Before 1910, little social science literature on community; first sociological consideration in 1915 There are a number of competing theoretical definition of the term which may be based on geography, common interest, particular place etc.

Community Functions
Community is that combination of people and social groups which performs the five major functions relevant to a locality: 1.Economic functions 2.Socialization 3.Social control 4.Social participation 5.Mutual support

Community Functions
1.Economic functions;
Includes production, distribution, & consumption Some rural communities have their economic base in farming, business, mining, manufacturing, industry and service business. In addition to economic activities, production/ distribution etc. in includes educational services, local government services, religious activities, and recreation.

2. Second: Socialization; The major socializing agencies of a society including; the family, schools, peer groups, mass media and religion. It is on the local level that individuals encounter and learn about the culture and the society in which they are raised and live out their lives.

3. Social control; Social control refers to the sanctions including rewards and /or punishment. The same group that perform the function of socialization are involved with social control, in addition to agencies such law enforcement and local and state government. Together they enforce the norms of society in the local level. 4. Social participation; Community members are characterized by participation in human groups with neighbors, friends from the same community.

5. Mutual support; Mutual support refers to more than the normal types of assistance provided among neighbors & friends. It also refers to help during times of crises such as emergency medical services & disaster relief. (poverty sharing) The self-sufficiency of communities varies by how good the five functions are performed.

Structure of the communities

Rural-Urban continuum: The different types of communities may be arranged along on a continuum or line from purely rural to purely urban type. Pure rural type Agric. village Small town Rural urban fringe community Suburban community small city Metropolitan city Pure urban type.

The major type of rural settlement patterns

1) Line village: 2) Cluster villages 3) Scattered villages

The major type of rural settlement patterns

: Line village( 1 Farm homes are often located in rows along both sides of the rivers, lacks, or the main road and the farmland extends back long .narrow strips

: Cluster villages( 1
farmers homes are located in the center This type is located most in Africa, Latin America and Asia. In this type of settlements, farmers live in the village and are within walking distance of their lands.

: Scattered village( 1
The scattered communities are characterized by homesteads or dwellings distributed around a central shopping area, farmstead or commune area. This type of settlements is common in USA, Canada and even Africa (RSA).

Community Power structure

It is very important to study the community power structure because often no project succeeds without using the community power structure especially in rural areas. By studying Community power structure we can understand why do some communities projects succeed while, others fail (e.g. CDF) Why do some persons have more power to influence local issues, and how do they maintain their power?

Power structure
A community power structure is a network of persons and groups that influence decisions about local issues and projects. There are three types of power structure: 1.Pyramidal power structure 2.Faction power structure 3.Coalitional power structure

Power structure
1. Pyramidal type: It consists of small number of people at the top who hold most of the power. This type is found in society dominated by one family and in communities where a small closely knit group of influential people form a Clique.

2. Faction type:
This consists of factions or special interest groups who struggle against each other for influence over community decisions. Usually there are several factions, one representing business interests, another labor interests and others on farmer interests. Compared to pyramidal type, the factional type is marked by a greater sharing of influence among many persons.

3. Coalitional power structure:

It is characterized by the development of temporary alliance between individuals & groups relative to specific issue. Coalitions may form temporary factions. Coalitions emerge, dissolve and reemerge in different forms as issues arise.

Community power holders

Community power is in the hands of a small group of persons. These persons often referred to as power holders or legitimizers. Different power holders perform different functions

1 - the Influentials 2 the Lieutenants 3 the Doers

Community power holders

1-The top power holder are the Influentials; They make policy decision and they operate in primary friendship cliques. Most power holders are from the top social classes.
Many are executive and owners of large industrial and commercial concerns. They have high incomes and are well known and respected in the community.

2- The Lieutenants;
Below the top power holders are the lieutenants. They provide leadership in carrying out of decisions made by the top power holders. They are responsible for the actual execution of tasks and activities associated with decisions made at the top. The three types of power holders are predominately from the upper or middle classes.

3- Doers;

Community Decision Making

Community decision making is the process by which a community choose a plan or idea that affects the community. It is generally viewed as series of steps or stages. The stages represent the general chronological order in which decisions are made , a given action project, however it may be interrupted or modified, then the decision making may start over again.

Community Decision Making

1.Stimulation / Initiation 1. Legitimization 1. Decision to act 1. Action or execution

END OF PART 1