Mike,
I've read plenty on empowerment, community activism and praxis, but
not seen anything that directly connects theories of empowerment to
Foucault's work. More to questions of resistance/praxis. I'd be very
very interested in the references to the former you mention.
You might want to look at my article in the new Society and Space on
LETS where I start to play about with the idea of empowerment and
heterotopia. I'd be very interested in any thoughts/references you
might have to help me take that further.
I'm just starting a research project about political learning and
empowerment by/with community activists in urban politics, and want
to take that forward using ideas of micro-politics within observable
micro-political opportunity structures. I want to explore the extent
that activists learn from and change from within the micro-political
environments that urban regeneration provides. And I want to use
Foucault's analysis of power circuits there.
Any suggestions to ways to take that further would also be
appreciated.
Regards
Pete North
Research Fellow in Community Economic Development
South Bank University, London
> Dear all,
>
> I am seeking empowerment (many a true word said in jest).
>
> Does anyone know any good references on this (now less fashionable) term.
> Better still references in which Foucault et al/postmodernism and
> empowerment are mentioned in the same breath. I have some, but am I
> missing anything?
>
> Is empowerment an unredeemably modernist concept? Is deconstruction of
> dominant discourse the only possibility? I am trying to put square pegs in
> round holes in the context of a discussion about gender sensitive
> participatory HIV work in rural Africa.
>
> Secondly, there have been some theory versus empirical type debates
> recently - but has anyone spotted any references that specifically address
> praxis and geographical research/geographers?
>
> All tips, refs. and suggestions gratefully received.
>
> Cheers Mike Kesby [log in to unmask]
>
> School Geog
> Uni St Andrews
> Fife, Scotland
> KY16 9ST
>
> 01334 463909
>
>
>
>
_________________________________________
Peter North
School of Urban Development and Policy
South Bank University, London
Tel: 0171-815 7706
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|