Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa)

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dc.contributor.advisorWentzel, Wilfreden_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Heerden, Debbieen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-05T10:53:25Z
dc.date.available2016-08-05T10:53:25Z
dc.date.issued1988en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: pages 136-148.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe thesis attempts to address the dubious statement of conventional community development that the approach is neutral. The central question asked was 'Is community development a value neutral approach established to meet the needs of communities or does it have another function?' Arguing that no approach that deals with people and which was specifically formulated by persons in a definite ideological context can be neutral, the author then sets about proving that the community development approach is closely aligned to the conservative structural functionalist perspective. An analysis was made of the central tenets of the structural functionalist position and central themes of community development examined as to the basis of their assumptions. It became obvious that a very close correlation exists between the community development approach and the structural functionalist position. Once this had been established the broader ramifications of working within this theoretical position were explored. A number of observations were made in this regard. It was argued that community development could never achieve its goals while working within this framework as it failed to address the real structural problems in society. In supporting the existing social order, the emphasis is shifted away from society as a cause of problems and emphasis, incorrectly, placed on individual communities. Persons are thus expected to find solutions to problems they had no part in causing. Thus, within a South African context, a status quo is supported which propagates inequality, injustice and social deprivation. It was then argued that an alternate approach should be sought which addresses the fundamental social problems. A starting point for this approach could be an acceptance on the part of the community development approach of its inherent political nature and clarification as to how this effects the approach. It was suggested that in the South African context exponents should take their lead from the oppressed communities and their expression of need. One such pointer was the Freedom Charter which was drawn up in 1955 by a democratic grouping of the population. In order to give substance to the theoretical argument the arguments were focussed on a rural South African community where research was conducted.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationVan Heerden, D. (1988). <i>Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa)</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21150en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationVan Heerden, Debbie. <i>"Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa)."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21150en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Heerden, D. 1988. Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa). University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Van Heerden, Debbie AB - The thesis attempts to address the dubious statement of conventional community development that the approach is neutral. The central question asked was 'Is community development a value neutral approach established to meet the needs of communities or does it have another function?' Arguing that no approach that deals with people and which was specifically formulated by persons in a definite ideological context can be neutral, the author then sets about proving that the community development approach is closely aligned to the conservative structural functionalist perspective. An analysis was made of the central tenets of the structural functionalist position and central themes of community development examined as to the basis of their assumptions. It became obvious that a very close correlation exists between the community development approach and the structural functionalist position. Once this had been established the broader ramifications of working within this theoretical position were explored. A number of observations were made in this regard. It was argued that community development could never achieve its goals while working within this framework as it failed to address the real structural problems in society. In supporting the existing social order, the emphasis is shifted away from society as a cause of problems and emphasis, incorrectly, placed on individual communities. Persons are thus expected to find solutions to problems they had no part in causing. Thus, within a South African context, a status quo is supported which propagates inequality, injustice and social deprivation. It was then argued that an alternate approach should be sought which addresses the fundamental social problems. A starting point for this approach could be an acceptance on the part of the community development approach of its inherent political nature and clarification as to how this effects the approach. It was suggested that in the South African context exponents should take their lead from the oppressed communities and their expression of need. One such pointer was the Freedom Charter which was drawn up in 1955 by a democratic grouping of the population. In order to give substance to the theoretical argument the arguments were focussed on a rural South African community where research was conducted. DA - 1988 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1988 T1 - Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa) TI - Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa) UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21150 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21150
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationVan Heerden D. Community development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa). [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 1988 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21150en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Social Developmenten_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherCommunity development - South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.otherSocial Planning and Administrationen_ZA
dc.titleCommunity development : a quest for social change or social submission : (towards a model of change for South Africa)en_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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