The Loss of Community
“There are many
tragedies of the 20th century. Among the least spectacular, but most
significant, was picking at the threads of our relationships so much, that we
unravelled the entire fabric of many of our communities. Now we find ourselves
without the support we need from our human safety nets.”
Dave Andrews’ book will have most people committed to
finishing the whole book after the first two pages, where, citing research, he
demonstrates that connectedness leads to better outcomes for people in health,
happiness, honesty, generosity, non-economic prosperity and safety. When one
considers community development broadly speaking, these are outcomes most
people working in the community sector would see as positive outcomes in their
roles.
At its heart this book is a call to get back to relationships
in human services and community work. However its deeper message is about
authenticity and being true to one self.
Prior to developing his main thesis, Dave Andrews undertakes
a quick survey of how communities and connectedness has diminished. He attributes
this loss of community to numerous factors. Materialism, the advent of large
shopping malls leading to the “privatisation of public spaces,” the rising
numbers of people leaving smaller rural communities to live in cities and the
impacts this will have in developing nations such as China and the correlation
between commuting to work, where he suggests a 10 minute commute will decrease
by 10% the ability to develop meaningful relationships. Churches have not been
immune, as some churches establish regional centres at the expense of local
churches involved in their communities.
The underlying reason he advances for the decline in
community is the increasing focus on self through the pursuit of money, fame
and influence at the expense of relationships and experiencing the love of
others altruistically. Research shows that between 1970 and 1990, the
proportion of students motivated to go to college by money rose from about half
to three quarters.
The Professionalisation of social work and bureaucracies
Dave Andrews goes on to demonstrate how this has all led to
a loss of community volunteers with no special skills other than interest and
concern; historically, this group have done the things which met the needs of
people. The professionalising of community
development has resulted in communities losing their soul. His exposition of
the ten dangers of professionalisation of community work and the seven
propositions that disempower communities makes this book a required text in all
social work educational settings. Those who go into social welfare with good
motives, often end up part of “the system”, more concerned with the
professional work they do than the people they assist.
Focussing on the original meaning of the word “profession,”
the author then goes on to suggest a remedy lies in a return to vocation and he
spends some time developing this idea, referring to Henri Nouwen, Carl Jung and
Viktor Frankl to suggest people need a call. “Our own call may come to us in
our own small voice, a small still voice from somewhere deep inside us: ‘our
vocation acts like a law of God. It makes demands upon us. It demands our best
and at times even better than our best. To liberate. To redeem. To transform.’”
Having worked in disability, his references to Jean Vanier,
who spoke about the suffering of the disabled and their families at the hands
of the powerful (defined as doctors, psychologists, social workers and others),
resonated powerfully. He advocates deconstructing and reconstructing the
professions, so that people seeking to assist really care (rather than
empathising as they have been taught) and use their skills and relevant
knowledge to serve rather than accumulating power and prestige. This he posits
will result in “amateur, radical and revolutionary activists”.
This leads into an analysis of bureaucracies and counter
bureaucracies. Counter bureaucracies being defined “in theory, as well as
practice, not actually committed to the work, but simply maintaining the
system.” In NSW this was evident to me as the politics of NSW ensured a
bureaucracy, compliant to its political masters rather than really seeking to serve
and deliver for the people it was designed to serve.
Rabbi Jonathon Sacks is quoted at length to make a point
about the use of power and fear to control people. He expounds Jewish thought
on the Genesis account of the creation of humankind to tell two stories about
moving from unbearable isolation to tolerable association. These stories gave
me a profound understanding of the roots of Anabaptism, community and
non-violence. I am not sure if this was the intention of the author, however
the analysis of Genesis 2:23 by Sacks was enlightening.
Most readers of the book will identify with the analysis of
bureaucracies and counter bureaucracies. Dave summarises the conflicts inherent
in both, suggesting that there are two policy options in which both operate –
love and fear or community and security. This is neatly summarised in a helpful
table which contrasts characteristics and behaviours of both. Compliance and
resistance to bureaucracy and counter bureaucracy is examined and helpful
suggestions given to assist practitioners resist compliance with bureaucracies.
Unlike many books that theorise about subjects such as this
and leave readers trying to contextualise how this works in reality, Dave
Andrews provides studies based on TEAR Australia and TEAR Fund (UK). Transformation
into bureaucracies as they grew but not wanting to lose the “spirit” in how they
operate are described. Spirit was defined and is not religious in its
definition. Many books have been written about spirit in the workplace and
Jossey-Bass publishers have a catalogue of books on the topic.
The TEAR study describes the practical outcomes of open
conversations which were facilitated by Dave Andrews. These resulted in
affirmations and suggestions which are person centred and relational, prioritising
relationships over bureaucracy. In England, the director of TEAR Fund has
authored a paper quoted in this book, describing three qualities of new systems
– agility, relationality and glocality.
The book concludes with an amazing account of community work
undertaken by Ange, Dave’s wife who has worked with refugees in Brisbane since
1989.
I identified with this book as someone who has resisted
bureaucracy while working in large bureaucracies. The practical examples
contained in it may assist others challenge the powers. Often people are
fearful of large institutions simply because they are large institutions. As
government approaches to community services changes throughout Australia, the
opportunity is there once again to get back to grass roots and engage with
people and communities.
The political motive may be that government has recognised
its inability (read lack of resources) to do everything and has recognised the
community resources and assets better able to engage with communities. Place-based
planning and decision making is the focus in NSW government policy, and the
opportunity is there for people and local organisations and churches to engage
locally as governments seek to devolve decisions and resources to locals.
This is a must for all idealists graduating from social work
and other humanities courses to learn how to “avoid becoming the system they
inhabit” (p88).
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