Butcher, H., S. Banks, et al. (2007). Critical community practice. Bristol, Policy Press.
This book advances 'critical community practice' (CCP) as an alternative theoretical framework to community development. In the introductory chapter, Butcher lays out the conceptual foundation for CCP, emphasising the importance of power and engagement. In chapter three, Butcher then explores the significant of power through several case studies including: neighborhood governance in Chicago; youth councils in Espoo and Lambeth; cooperative community enterprise in Leicester and Minster; and local participatory budgeting in Port Alegre and Salford/Harrow. On the basis of the theoretical framework combined with these case studies, in chapter four Butcher outlines a model for CCP which comprises four interrelated aspects: critical consciousness, critical theorizing, critical action, and critical reflection. In the second half of the book (chapters 5-9) different authors apply Butcher's CCP model to a range of community, practice, organizational, and policy contexts.