Neighborhood-representing Organizations: How Democratic Are They?

Neighborhood-representing organizations (NROs) are generally viewed as the most authentic form of citizen participation and local democracy. In this article, I question how democratic NROs actually are, both on the local level (participatory democracy) and in the external arena (representative democracy). I present a new conceptual model of the components of democracy in neighborhood organizations. A review of the literature is presented within the context of this model to show to what extent NROs are democratic. The findings indicate that the level of democracy in NROs is questionable and that the iron law of oligarchy is valid for this type of organization. The problem of low participatory and representative democracy is addressed, and implications for research and practice are discussed

Review of \u3cem\u3eSociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments.\u3c/em\u3e Kevin J. Christiano, William H. Swatos Jr. and Peter Kivisto. Reviewed by Ram A. Cnaan.

Book review of Kevin J. Christiano, William H. Swatos Jr. and Peter Kivisto, Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press, 2002. $44.95 papercover

Review of Hillel Schmid, \u3cem\u3eNeighborhood Self-Management: Experiments in Civil Society\u3c/em\u3e

In this volume, Professor Hillel Schmid of the Hebrew University describes and analyzes an attempt to establish neighborhood-based mechanisms that will serve as representatives and service coordinators to local residents. The experiment took place in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Israel is too often given negative press in the media where three monotheistic religions see home and heritage. Yet, it is important to remember that it is also a place where some 600-700,000 people work, live, and consume municipal services. Chapter 5 describes Jerusalem in such a perspective and would be of interest to many readers, even those who are not concerned with community practice and civil society issues. In the early 1990s, the city integrated two groups that served the residents interests: community centers and neighborhood self-management into a joint body called community council

Review of \u3cem\u3eThe Politics of Care: Human Services at the Local Level.\u3c/em\u3e Alan J. Hahn. Reviewed by Ram A. Cnaan, University of Pennsylvania.

Alan J. Hahn, The Politics of Care: Human Services at the Local Level. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1994. $63.00 hardcover,$19.95 papercover, 256 pp

Review of \u3cem\u3eReflection and Controversy: Essays in Social Work.\u3c/em\u3e Ann Hartman. Reviewed by Ram A. Cnaan, University of Pennsylvania.

Ann Hartman Reflection & Controversy: Essays in Social Work, Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers Press, 1994, $21.95, papercover

Review of Peter J. Wosh, \u3cem\u3eCovenant House: Journey of a Faith-based Charity\u3c/em\u3e

In Covenant House: Journey of a Faith-Based Charity, Peter Wosh provides us with a modern historical review of one of the most famous, and infamous, faith-based social service agencies. Covenant House is the creation of Bruce Ritter, a Franciscan friar who witnessed the growth of youth runaways in New York and established a network of local as well as national and international semifranchised agencies to help them. The case study of Covenant House contains almost everything for which a nonprofit scholar can ask: the formation of a successful nonprofit organization (NPO), an analysis of growth, charismatic leadership, expansion, crisis and demise of the founder, rebirth, and recovery. Of the many cases I have read throughout the years, this one is by far the most extensive and carefully crafted

Review of Artisans of Democracy: How Ordinary People, Families in Extreme Poverty, and Social Institutions Become Allies to Overcome Social Exclusion

As a longtime reader and contributor to NVSQ, I have been occupied for quite a while with trying to select what book is worthy of a review in NVSQ. So many new books cover aspects of the nonprofit sector or voluntary action, or both, that the list of books alone would take the entire space allocated for book reviews. Rarely do I encounter a book that is unknown by most scholars in the field yet that is pivotal to what we collectively stand for. Rosenfeld and Tardieu’s book epitomizes the entire nonprofit sector—from one determined volunteer to an impressive international movement that refuses to co-opt and maintains a spirit of care and respect

Towards a Practice-based Model for Community Practice: Linking Theory and Practice

Careful examination of the literature of community practice shows that existing community practice models do not ad- equately respond to the unique and changing needs of vari- ous communities. This article provides an alternative model that challenges the existing models. Based on extensive content analysis of the literature and practice knowledge, this alterna- tive model offers sufficient flexibility to adapt to any particular community. The model is also participatory, process-oriented, and reflective. Herein we first review existing models, provide criteria for assessing their applicability, then introduce the new model, and subsequently discuss its applicability and merit