CSWP934, Module 5 - Introduction

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Toronto Metropolitan University *

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934

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Sociology

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May 19, 2024

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pdf

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Uploaded by ProfessorWillpowerIbis21

Introduction In this module, we begin to look at when a focus on community engagement and participation came to the forefront. We see examples of community mobilization through specific socio-cultural and political movements and also begin to see how community engagement models differ depending on underlying values and commitments to various levels of involvement. We also have the opportunity to apply what we have learned so far in the course to a specific neighbourhood initiative case. Topics and Learning Objectives Topics Historical evolution of community engagement and citizen participation Levels and degrees along a continuum of community engagement Case study analysis Challenge true participation or tokenism Learning Objectives By the end of this module, you will be able to: Describe the historical evolution of the concept of citizen participation. Differentiate between the levels and degrees along a continuum of community engagement by examining a case study. Apply the knowledge and skills learned from the case study to your own interests and practices. Required Readings Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35 (4), 216–224. Historical Evolution of Community Engagement

Citizen activism, politically and socially, is not new. But, it seems that after World War II, there was a greater consciousness about more direct citizen participation in public decision-making. The postwar era brought the challenge of creating a modern society, shifting to urbanization, addressing both economic and social development. Professional planning came to the forefront in the 1950s and 1960s, and with it, greater demand for citizen input in the planning decisions that were being made. In addition to the social and political struggles of contest and conflict (e.g., opposition to the Vietnam War, the nuclear disarmament movement, and the growth of separatism in Québec, which even had its militant form in the Front de libération du Québec), there were also pressures for more citizen input into local public decision-making processes rather than leaving everything up to the professional planners and political elites. Continuum of Citizen Participation The seminal article by Sherry Arnstein in 1969 summarizes well the perspective on citizen participation that had developed by the end of the 1960s. Arnstein is credited with cautioning against assuming that any level of citizen participation in public decision-making is positive or meaningful. She was the first to articulate a continuum of citizen participation—eight stages from nonparticipation to tokenism to citizen power in Figure 5.1 below. Figure 5.1 – The ladder of citizen participation with eight rungs. Source: Sherry Arnstein, 1969 Long Description

Drawn from Arnstein’s 1969 article, a ladder with eight rungs enumerated 1 to 8 from the bottom rung, divided into three groups and labelled as follows: Nonparticipation: Rung 1 – Manipulation Rung 2 – Therapy Tokenism: Rung 3 – Informing Rung 4 – Consultation Rung 5 – Placation Citizen Power: Rung 6 – Partnership Rung 7 – Delegated Power Rung 8 – Citizen Control Arnstein’s first formulation has been developed by others and recast many times since 1969. Desmond Connor (1988) thought that Arnstein’s approach was too limiting and was not adequately applicable to a broad enough range of situations, at least for environmental and land-use planning processes. He argues it did not recognize the cumulative effect of participation at different stages. He suggested seven stages of involvement differentiated in terms of participation by the general public and engagement by leadership in resolving issues. Case Example: Holding Ground Video Let’s start to apply some of our learning from the last few weeks to an actual community issue. Video In the mid-1980s, Roxbury, a low-income community in Boston, was threatened with re- development that would displace many of the local residents. The video Holding Ground: The Rebirth of Dudley Street [56:00] documents what the community did to reclaim and reshape itself. It is an inspiring story of community development and growth. Holding Ground Video TMU Video | Duration: 58:33

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