WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY?

What are the implications for Community Development practice, and for its teaching

Key Themes from the IACD Educators Meeting held on 27^th March 2025

The recent IACD Global Community Development Educators Meeting in March brought together about 20 educators from around the world for a crucial discussion on navigating the impacts of current global issues, challenges and shifting political landscapes on community development education and practice. The session, chaired by Anna Clarke, IACD, and featuring insightful contributions from Anastasia Crickley (Chair of Minority Rights Group International) and others, highlighted key challenges, potential responses, and the enduring importance of core community development values and principles. This blog post offers an overview of the central themes and issues explored during this vital meeting.

Understanding the Shifting Global Context:

The session began by establishing the complex global context in which community development educators and practitioners are operating. Anastasia Crickley painted a stark picture of multiple levels of challenge, uncertainty, and urgency impacting communities worldwide. Key aspects of this context included:

• Erosion of Rights and Inclusion: Concerns were raised about the removal of language associated with rights, equality, and inclusion in some parts of the world. Marginalized groups, including LGBTIQ+ individuals, disabled people, and those facing religious oppression, are facing further marginalization and discrimination.
• Threatened Funding and Resources: Globally, there is a trend of funding cuts for community work, often under "misleading pretexts." This impacts both dedicated community development initiatives and the application of community development approaches within other disciplines.
• Fragile Democracies and the Tyranny of Majority Rule: The meeting acknowledged the fragility of democratic systems and the exposure of the "tyranny of so-called common sense," where dominant narratives can undermine the rights and needs of minorities.
• Eurocentric Worldview and Neo-colonialism: Anastasia critiqued the prevailing Eurocentric understanding of the world, exemplified by the five-continent model, and highlighted the emergence of a "new colonialism of greed and grab" driven by new technologies and resource extraction, particularly impacting African nations.
• Self-Censorship and Diminishing Democratic Space: Concerns were voiced about increasing self-censorship within academic institutions and a diminishing space for democratic processes, which directly impacts the ability to teach and practice community work effectively, as highlighted by one contributor’s experience with restrictions on freedom of assembly.

Responding to the Challenges: Practical Actions and Considerations:

Participants explored these complex challenges in breakout discussions to share their experiences and potential strategies. Key themes and practical actions that emerged included:

• Recognizing Intersectionality and Complexity: There was a strong emphasis on understanding the interconnected nature of global issues and their diverse impacts on communities.
• Interrupting Systemic Oppression: Participants stressed the need for community development work to actively challenge and disrupt systemic inequalities and oppressions, recognizing that approach alone may not be sufficient. This requires courage, commitment, and strategic thinking.
• Reaffirming Core Values and Ethics: Several speakers emphasized the importance of returning to the fundamental values, ethics, and standards of community development practice as a guiding framework for navigating challenging times. This includes using these principles to inform difficult conversations and justify ethical practice.
• Building Consciousness and Collective Capacity: The focus should be on generating awareness and empowering communities to develop their own capacity for action, rather than simply identifying individual leaders.
• The Power of Connection and Creating Safe Spaces: Despite the challenges of physical distance and limitations of online interactions, the importance of fostering human connection and creating inclusive and safe spaces for dialogue and collaboration was underscored. This includes leveraging online platforms like LinkedIn for professional networking and support.
• Formalizing Community Development Education: One suggestion to combat disinformation and foster deeper understanding was to formalize a core community development curriculum to support students, communities, practitioners and those in leadership roles.
• Bridging Divides and Constructing a Shared Vision: Participants recognized the need to bridge the gap between current realities and aspirations by collaboratively constructing a compelling vision for the future that resonates with disaffected communities.
• Adapting Educational Approaches: Educators discussed the need to adapt their teaching methods to raise consciousness about global issues and build local competencies, including through fieldwork experiences.

The Enduring Importance of Community Development:

Despite the daunting challenges outlined, the meeting reinforced the critical role of community development education and practice in fostering positive social change. The emphasis on analysis, strategic action, and the power of human connection provides a hopeful outlook for navigating these turbulent times. As Anastasia Crickley eloquently stated, the need is to move beyond simply connecting and to strategically stand for core principles through critique, collaboration, and the co-creation of a meaningful vision for the future. The discussions highlighted the resilience and adaptability of community development educators and practitioners in the face of global complexities.