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Empowerment

About: Empowerment is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 42112 publications have been published within this topic receiving 752953 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that despite significant claims to the contrary there is little evidence of the long-term eAectiveness of participation in materially improving the conditions of the most vulnerable people or as a strategy for social change.
Abstract: This article suggests that the concepts underlying participatory approaches to development should be subject to greater critical analysis. Drawing on research on water resource management in sub-Saharan Africa, and on social theory concerning the recursive relationship between agency and structure, it illustrates the need for a more complex understanding of issues of eAciency and empowerment in participatory appro- aches. Particularly, two key concepts are examined: ideas about the nature and role of institutions; and models of individual action. The article concludes by identifying the questions such an analysis raises about the relationships between community, social capital and the state. Copyright # 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1 PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE Heroic claims are made for participatory approaches to development, these being justified in the terms of ensuring greater eAciency and eAectiveness of investment and of contributing to processes of democratization and empowerment. The conundrum of ensuring the sustainability of development interventions is assumed to be solvable by the proper involvement of beneficiaries in the supply and management of resources, services and facilities. However, despite significant claims to the contrary there is little evidence of the long-term eAectiveness of participation in materially improving the conditions of the most vulnerable people or as a strategy for social change. Whilst the evidence for eAciency receives some support on a small scale, the evidence regarding empower- ment and sustainability is more partial, tenuous and reliant on assertions of the rightness of the approach and process rather than convincing proof of outcomes. Participation has therefore become an act of faith in development; something we believe in and rarely question. This act of faith is based on three main tenets; that

821 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: "Why try" is the overarching phenomenon of interest here, encompassing self-stigma, mediating processes, and their effect on goal-related behavior, with special focus on social psychological models.

820 citations

Book
01 Dec 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, power and empowerment are used to analyse empowerment: a dynamic view using the model: empowerment, gender, and development, and a glossary of Spanish words used in the text is presented.
Abstract: Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Power and Empowerment Background on information on Honduras Case study 1: Health Promoters'Training Programme, Urraco Case Study 2: Programa Educativa de la Mujer, Santa Barbara Analysing empowerment: a dynamic view Using the model: empowerment, gender, and development Endnotes Glossary of Spanish words used in the text Bibliography Index

814 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A view of empowerment as a necessarily long-term process of adult learning and development is proposed, further described as the continuing construction of a multi-dimensional participatory competence.
Abstract: Since the late 1970s, the notion of empowerment has appeared with increasing frequency in discussion of preventive social and community intervention. While the idea of empowerment is intuitively appealing both for theory and practice, its applicability has been limited by continuing conceptual ambiguity. Based on a small ?G study of emerging citizen leaders in grassroots organizations, this article proposes a view of empowerment as a necessarily long-term process of adult learning and development. In this framework, empowerment is further described as the continuing construction of a multi-dimensional participatory competence. This conception encompasses both cognitive and behavioral change. Implications for practice are also addressed.

804 citations

Book
01 Mar 1997
TL;DR: The social construction of social work theory is discussed in this paper, with a focus on the connection between theory and practice, and a review of the social work theories and their application in practice.
Abstract: PART I: THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL WORK THEORY.- 1. The Social Construction of Social Work Theory.- 2. Evaluating Social Work Theory.- 3. Connecting Theory and Practice.- PART II: REVIEWING SOCIAL WORK THEORIES.- 4. Psychodynamic Practice.- 5. Crisis and Task Centred Models.- 6. Cognitive Behavioural Practice.- 7. Systems and Ecological Practice.- 8. Macro Practice, Social Development and Social Pedagogy.- 9. Strengths, Narrative and Solution Practice.- 10. Humanistic Practice, Existentialism and Spirituality.- 11. Empowerment and Advocacy.- 12. Critical Practice.- 13. Feminist Practice.- 14. Anti-Oppressive and Multicultural Sensitivity Practice

800 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
20241
20233,100
20226,409
20212,123
20202,550
20192,576