Can the community construct knowledge to shape services in the local state? A case study

The Labour government's stated commitment to shifting the balance of power to communities, citizens and users has been expressed in numerous initiatives to promote participatory governance in the local state. In this context achieving reliable ways of learning about participants' views becomes critical. A prime concern then becomes what constitutes 'community knowledge' and how that knowledge can be developed. This article considers some issues that arise for communities and policy makers in reshaping local services through community involvement in governance. It draws out some implications of theoretical understandings of community, social capital and participation for the practice of community involvement and raises questions about the nature, and the potential, of community knowledge to exercise influence.