Abstract

MONTERO, MARITZA. Scopes and Obstacles in Community Empowerment. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.3, pp.615-626. ISSN 1657-9267.

In order to analyze the concept of strengthening and the factors that impair its achievement in the community psychosocial environment, a critical research by means of qualitative content analysis was performed on several types of research material produced by community work in Caracas, Venezuela, from 1999 to 2002. The analysis compared categories taken from the literature on the concept with those arising from the work with communities. Results indicate that external and internal agents disagree within the internal factors, with regards to criteria, basic community concepts and the community work itself. Exercise of power and excluding trends may generate tensions and conflict. The action of external influences is discussed and possible ways of resistance are presented.

Keywords : Empowerment; Alienation; Liberation; Tension; Conflict; Discussion-Reflection; Rural Communities; Community Action; Sociology; Rural; Caracas-Venezuela.

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