Network Logic - Index of
Network Logic - Index of
Network Logic - Index of
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<strong>Network</strong> logic<br />
located within geographical boundaries and anchored by shared<br />
values and assumptions. Policy-makers have regarded the idea <strong>of</strong><br />
community as a panacea for society’s ills – a haven where people can<br />
find, and express, solidarity and compassion. The term ‘community’ is<br />
used in policy debates to s<strong>of</strong>ten the edges <strong>of</strong> unpalatable programmes<br />
and to harness the unpaid energy, expertise and enthusiasm <strong>of</strong> local<br />
volunteers and activists.<br />
The government’s interest in ‘community’ can be broken down in<br />
relation to three different but not mutually exclusive goals.<br />
Improving governance<br />
Broad swathes <strong>of</strong> government policy require public and private<br />
agencies to work in partnership arrangements, and to engage with<br />
communities in developing and delivering programmes that meet<br />
needs and aspirations. Decision-making procedures, led by elected<br />
politicians and implemented by public servants, are augmented or<br />
displaced by consultative forums and mechanisms for encouraging<br />
greater participation and influence among groups who have hitherto<br />
been marginalised or alienated by formal political systems. New<br />
forms <strong>of</strong> governance are being devised to support more effective<br />
community representation in a concerted attempt to modernise<br />
democracy and renovate civil society.<br />
Yet there is still a long way to go in learning how these complex<br />
multi-agency structures can manage the interface between<br />
communities, programme managers and policy-makers. One key<br />
challenge is to understand better the impact <strong>of</strong> informal networks on<br />
what should be transparent and democratic processes. 2 Community<br />
representatives report that they feel disempowered by the culture <strong>of</strong><br />
many partnerships, finding themselves ‘out <strong>of</strong> the loop’ <strong>of</strong> much <strong>of</strong><br />
the decision-making. While <strong>of</strong>ten being excluded from the informal<br />
networks where crucial discussions take place, their attendance at<br />
partnership meetings also means that they have less time to attend to<br />
their own community networks, which provide support and ensure<br />
accountability. The resulting frustrations and suspicions can lead to<br />
derailment and delays because <strong>of</strong> the lack <strong>of</strong> trust among partners<br />
146 Demos