Abstract
In the current policy context, in Britain and elsewhere, there has been increasing emphasis on community involvement and empowerment within the framework of strategies for more inclusive development/ regeneration within the mixed economy of welfare. This chapter explores the contested concept of empowerment in the current policy context, before focusing on illustrations of more (and sometimes less effectively) empowering experiences in practice. Whilst there are encouraging examples of experiences which have been recognised as empowering and inclusive by those involved themselves, countertendencies are also identified. As some groups are becoming more empowered others are being left out, and these increasingly marginalised groups are disproportionately likely to be those already disadvantaged in terms of ‘race’, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disability, housing tenure and social class. There are implications for policies and practices at local, national and international levels.
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© 2004 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
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Mayo, M. (2004). Exclusion, Inclusion and Empowerment: Community Empowerment? Reflecting on the Lessons of Strategies to Promote Empowerment. In: Andersen, J., Siim, B. (eds) The Politics of Inclusion and Empowerment. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403990013_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403990013_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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