Pragmatics of community organization

Recognizing that community practice takes place in a dynamic landscape, Lee provides a practical narrative of community work in his book, Pragmatics of Community Organization. He conceptualizes community as a dynamic network of interpersonal relations based on overlapping elements of geography, functions, attributes, and interests; all having specific boundaries and, to some extent, a definite consciousness. Lee sees community practice not only as planning or coordinating services to be more efficient, or correcting power imbalances in society; but, more so as a means of addressing the goals of empowerment and social justice. Lee’s passion and enthusiasm are revealed through this work. Compared to the first three editions, the fourth addresses the threat of human environmental degradation, the world financial upheaval, the importance of the Internet, and how social media affects community practice. It highlights the political character of the community and social workers’ role in it; and has sections on strategies and tactics of organizing, as well as diagrams to illustrate different concepts. It is also updated with a bibliography.