NCJ Number
60782
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE TERM 'SOCIOCULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT' IS EXPLAINED AND ITS GOALS AND METHODS IN WEST GERMANY ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
AS A RECENT CONCEPT, 'SOCIOCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT' (OR 'ANIMATION') STILL LACKS A PRECISE DEFINITION. ITS GOALS ARE TO INVOLVE CITIZENS IN A COUNTRY'S 'CULTURAL ACTIVITIES' (IN A BROAD SENSE) AND PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH NUMEROUS POSSIBILITIES FOR SELF-ACTUALIZATION. IT IS ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE POPULATION WHO USUALLY AVOID THE CONVENTIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. OPPOSED TO ALL PASSIVE, NONCREATIVE, AND ISOLATED LEISURE ACTIVITIES, SOCIOCULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EMPHASIZES THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE: (1) THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF COMMUNAL TIES, (2) ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION, AND (3) EMANCIPATION AND A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE'S ENVIRONMENT. NATURALLY, THE CONCEPT IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN URBAN PROBLEM AREAS SUCH AS LARGE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHICH TEND TO ISOLATE THE TENANTS, OR SLUMS WITH THEIR UNDERPRIVILEGED POPULATION. SOCIOCULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES. INSTEAD, A LARGE-SCALE COMMUNAL EFFORT USING VOLUNTEERS FROM CLUBS, CHURCHES, POLITICAL PARTIES, THE PRESS, THE POLICE, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS IS ENVISAGED. ACTIVITIES MIGHT INCLUDE INFORMATIVE MEETINGS WHICH MAKE THE POPULATION AWARE OF COMMUNITY POLITICS AND PROJECTS; SOCIAL EVENTS (DANCES, TEAS); FINANCIAL AID TO CIVIC ACTIVITIES; INVOLVEMENT OF ISOLATED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY; OR THE SUPPLY OF MEETING FACILITIES. ALTHOUGH SOCIOCULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN PARTICIPATING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, A MORE HUMANE AND SOCIALLY INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT MAY HELP TO CURB CRIME. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)