Public Policy in the Community

Book excerpt: A key source of theory and practice for students interested in engaging communities in the policy process, the third edition of this authoritative textbook provides the ideal introduction to the development of policy and practice in relation to community over the past sixty years. Community and the ideas associated with it – civil society, social capital, mutuality, networks – are often seen by policy makers as the solution to persistent problems in society, most recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantially revised and updated to reflect advances in research, theory and practice, this enables students to combine theoretical discussion of policy with practical national and international case studies such population movement, Covid-19, climate change, the rise of populism, new digital technologies inc. social media and virtual communities, changing understandings of identity, and rising inequality. Addressing in particular the challenges, contradictions and dilemmas inherent in ideas of community empowerment, Taylor's indispensiable text asks how far communities of place still have relevance in a fast changing world and how far practices developed over the decades remain relevant to the challenges of the coming years. A pivotal assessment of the place of community in policy and practice today.