Community Building: What Makes It Work – A Review of Factors Influencing Successful Community Building

Community Building: What Makes It Work – A Review of Factors Influencing Successful Community Building

Paul Mattesich
Barbara Monsey
Corinna Roy

Source: WeLib

Community building consists of identifiable activities pursued by a community to increase its social capacity, which is defined as the collective ability of members to work together effectively. This capacity enables a community to identify problems, achieve consensus on goals, and cooperate to achieve them. A fundamental distinction exists between social capacity and task accomplishment; while community building improves the potential to reach goals such as economic revitalization or improved housing, it is the strengthening of social and psychological ties—rather than the attainment of the goals themselves—that constitutes the core outcome of the process.

The primary framework for successful community building relies on the presence and interaction of twenty-eight factors categorized into three distinct areas: characteristics of the community, the community building process, and the organizers. Community characteristics include attributes such as a shared awareness of an issue, self-imposed motivation, a manageable geographic area, and preexisting social cohesion. The process itself requires broad representation, effective communication, and a balance of internal and external resources. Finally, the characteristics of organizers—those who design and manage the process—include qualities such as commitment, trust, and the ability to adapt to changing social or political climates.

Key definitions further narrow the focus to residential communities, specified as people living within a geographically defined area who possess social and psychological ties to both each other and the place. Social ties involve interactions based on kinship, friendship, or economic exchange, while psychological ties encompass a sense of belonging, commitment, and mutual obligation. This specific focus distinguishes residential community building from other types of networks, such as communities of faith, profession, or identity.

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