Community Development

At the outset of the 21st century, community development and animation socioculturelle are facing new challenges resulting from global developments. Throughout the world, problems arise in the local context, different though they may be depending on the case. There are no simple solutions or useful recipes for dealing with these complex issues. Nevertheless, learning and development across boundaries is always possible. The question is only: How?

That is why, in September 2007, the 3rd International Congress on Community Development – Local and Global Challenges invited experts from around the world to Lucerne University to exchange their views on these topics. What are the current issues tackled using the multitude of methods provided by animation socioculturelle and community development? Is it possible to find, at the local level as well, answers to the repercussions of globalisation? One thing is certain: Simple instructions are highly unlikely to become available anytime soon. But is development proceeding in a discernible direction? The wide response from experts on all five continents made it clear how important and current participative approaches are within the context of global change.