There are three main types of community development workers: apologetic, liberal, and liberative. The apologetic view seeks to strengthen existing systems and legitimizes the status quo. The liberal view focuses on improving specific issues and minimizing strains within the system. The liberative view aims to overhaul oppressive systems and raise consciousness about root causes of problems in order to work towards alternative structures. Each type of community development worker takes a different approach and has implications for their practice and role in the community.
2. “ How the community development worker looks at society has implications to his/her practice.”
3. “ There are several types of Community Development Workers”
4. Community Organization Perspective Type/ Perspective APOLOGETIC LIBERAL LIBERATIVE View of society Visibility of existing system based on consensus and reciprocating Essential viability of existing system but necessity altering aspects due to aberrations Necessity of overhauling existing system since it is based on exploitation View of the State Leadership is responsive and promotes the common good Leadership is not responsive because people do not exert a countervailing force Leadership cannot be responsive and is an instrument for oppression View of Societal Divisions Social necessity which should be united as aresult of interdependence Differentiating but must be lessened Dividing, Oppressive
5. View of Community Organization Strengthening the system Tinkering with systemic aberration Restructing the system Role of Community Organization Tool End Step Change Agent Techno-fascist Reformist Revolutionary View of the Masses Condescending, Prescriptive, Dictatorial Romantic, Tailist Objectiv, dialectical Organizing Emphasis Attitudes Tactics, process-centered Consciousness Raising Apologetic Liberal Liberative
6. Basis for Organizing Pre-determined needs, service for delivery Felt needs Objective neeeds Major Method Dole-outs, program implementation Localist, issue-baseed, evocative Class-based, provocative, situating local issues within the context of historical forces and a vision of an alternative social order Goal/Vision Unity between the people and the state, servility and unquestioning obedience Minimizing strains, People's Power Awareness of relation between local, national and global structures, experience in limited struggles and experimenta-tion with alternative structure towards full involvement in national transformation Apologetic Liberal Liberative
16. Not only encourages people's participation but lay the groundwork for the condition that will allow such forms of participation to flourish
17. Organized Organizers “ Unfortunately, while most organizers are skilled in organizing people, it is ironic that organizers themselves are not organized”