Draw from the Past, Cut into the Present, Create the Future

Abstract

Community development has always served ideological functions. In the current era of neoliberal austerity, empowerment narratives are in vogue across the British political spectrum. The strapline is that communities can use their assets, strengths and positive attributes to foster resilience. However, such rhetoric obfuscates the fact that marginalised communities have been objectified in a way which allows for further state withdrawal. This article will suggest that practitioners would do well to draw from past radical projects to assist in coherently re-framing the Scottish Government’s empowerment agenda and to assist communities in claiming spaces to forge a vision for social justice.