Community Action for Change
Published on 27. February 2026
218 pages
978-1-040-85650-5 (ISBN)
Description
What was the significance of community action to the Labour movement in Britain during the 1980s? Ray Lees and Marjorie Mayo explore this question in Community Action for Change (first published in 1984), arguing that the Labour movement needed to revitalize its strength in response to the growing dominance of the New Right. They propose that this renewal could be achieved by developing social values rooted in the social needs often expressed through community action.
Through a series of case studies focused on local community resource centres, the authors examine the contributions, challenges, and limitations of this approach. These case studies address key issues such as employment and unemployment, housing, planning and tenants' activism, as well as information campaigns.
Lees and Mayo's analysis of these activities remains highly relevant for shaping future community interventions and broader campaigns, particularly in light of the political climate of the 1980s under a Conservative government.
Through a series of case studies focused on local community resource centres, the authors examine the contributions, challenges, and limitations of this approach. These case studies address key issues such as employment and unemployment, housing, planning and tenants' activism, as well as information campaigns.
Lees and Mayo's analysis of these activities remains highly relevant for shaping future community interventions and broader campaigns, particularly in light of the political climate of the 1980s under a Conservative government.
Reviews / Votes
Review of the first publication:'...Lees and Mayo...address head-on the particular nature of the concept of community action: the ambiguity that is both its strength and weakness...'
- Linda McDowell, Community Development Journal, Volume 20, Issue 4
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
15,87 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-85650-5 (9781040856505)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Ray Lees | Marjorie Mayo
Community Action for Change
Book
approx. 02/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€134.00
Not yet published
Content
Introduction: Socialism and community action Part 1: The relevance of community action 1. The community action movement and party politics 2. Community action and political theory 3. Community action and anti-poverty programmes Part 2: The resource centres in action 4. Information, advocacy and community action 5. Employment 6. Housing and planning Conclusion: The way forward
