Citizen Empowerment

TLDR

Empowerment has been discussed increasingly since the late 1970s, yet its practical use remains constrained by persistent conceptual ambiguity. The article proposes that empowerment is a long‑term process of adult learning and development. Drawing on a small study of emerging citizen leaders in grassroots organizations, the authors define empowerment as the ongoing construction of multi‑dimensional participatory competence that involves both cognitive and behavioral change. The authors outline implications for practice based on this conceptualization.

Abstract

Abstract Since the late 1970s, the notion of empowerment has appeared with increasing frequency in discussion of preventive social and community intervention. While the idea of empowerment is intuitively appealing both for theory and practice, its applicability has been limited by continuing conceptual ambiguity. Based on a small ?G study of emerging citizen leaders in grassroots organizations, this article proposes a view of empowerment as a necessarily long-term process of adult learning and development. In this framework, empowerment is further described as the continuing construction of a multi-dimensional participatory competence. This conception encompasses both cognitive and behavioral change. Implications for practice are also addressed.