'Community' continues to attract the attention of policy makers and scholars. Taking account of changes since the publication of the first edition, this new edition explores the challenges of empowering communities and assesses the lessons for policy and practice of community-based approaches to social disadvantage and exclusion.

Introduction The Changing Fortunes of Community Community in Policy and Practice Ideas of Community Contradictions of Community Prescribing Community to the Poor Power and Empowerment Power in the Policy Process Experiencing Empowerment Reclaiming Community Reclaiming Power The Challenge for Communities The Institutional Challenge Community Empowerment: Myth or Reality?

Reviews of the first edition: '[A]n excellent overview of how the concept of community has been interpreted and (ab)used by politicians and policymakers...The book takes familiar concepts and methods, weaving them together to build a new framework [and] throws up a number of challenging questions and some illuminating insights...[it] is unreservedly recommended for policy-makers and anyone working in or with communities. It will also be of immense value to students, researchers and academics seeking a comprehensive synthesis.' - Alison Gilchrist, Community Development Journal '[G]rounded, authoritative and timely...a crucial contribution to an important policy debate.' - John Houghton, Environmental Planning 'There remains little else that competes with this very readable text in its comprehensive coverage, and ability to help the reader through all of the bewildering complexity of this topic.' -Voluntary Sector Review '...a comprehensive look at how ideas of 'community' have been incorporated into government policy over the last half century or so.' - Environment and Planning

Reviews of the first edition: '[A]n excellent overview of how the concept of community has been interpreted and (ab)used by politicians and policymakers...The book takes familiar concepts and methods, weaving them together to build a new framework [and] throws up a number of challenging questions and some illuminating insights...[it] is unreservedly recommended for policy-makers and anyone working in or with communities. It will also be of immense value to students, researchers and academics seeking a comprehensive synthesis.' - Alison Gilchrist, Community Development Journal '[G]rounded, authoritative and timely...a crucial contribution to an important policy debate.' - John Houghton, Environmental Planning 'There remains little else that competes with this very readable text in its comprehensive coverage, and ability to help the reader through all of the bewildering complexity of this topic.' -Voluntary Sector Review "p>'...a comprehensive look at how ideas of 'community' have been incorporated into government policy over the last half century or so.' - Environment and Planning