Description
Book SynopsisThis book is a revision of the authorâs original doctoral thesis on emergency preparedness through community radio in North Indian villages into a widening array of possible reapplications in other community development fields.
The author expands on the process of transforming emergency preparedness education through community media in rural North India and applies this to the development of community-prosperity, defined simply as human and planetary well-being, anywhere in the world. A new theoretical framework is presented which combines the pivotal Integral Worlds Approach developed by Lessem and Schieffer with Critical Theory, thus exploring a new way to envision and implement social change, leading to innovation and social transformation.
This book introduces the term constructive resilience, which is a type of community-building that occurs alongside dominant societal structures that are either oppressive or ineffective. An evolving field of study an
Trade Review
"Dr. Jean Parker, through participatory research and her own personal experience, develops a compelling case for the new evolving community development paradigm of Constructive Resilience emanating from the Baha’i Faith and provides real examples of its applications that will serve as a blueprint for community development worldwide." — Nabil Elias, PhD, Faculty Emeritus, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
"Environmental degradation and extreme weather disproportionally impact vulnerable communities. Dr. Parker’s research in India shows us how relying on a community’s wisdom and skills, and using an egalitarian consultative process, builds community cohesion and facilitates emergency preparedness that mitigates the impacts of disasters. Popular education delivered by community radio are crucial tools. This approach also advances community development and has global applicability." — K. Scott Wood, Professor (Retired), School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
"Integral development is a cornerstone of effective community projects. The successful implementation of Jean’s newly created Intecritical framework, with the community of Uttarakhand, lends credence to this. The power of the process lies in its respectful co-creation with the community which led to conscious-raising and a level of empowerment that enabled the joint crafting of local solutions which ensured long-term sustainable impacts for the community." — Dr Loshnee Naidoo, (PhD) (Integral Development), Multi-award winning Development Specialist
Table of Contents1. Constructing resilience: from preparing for emergencies to community economic sustainability PART I My inner and outer call: the subjective calling and the objective challenge 2. An unlikely story: my subjective inner calling and burning desire 3. Defining the objective problem – disasters: a challenge for India, humanity and the planet PART II Exploring the context – introducing Uttarakhand 4. The context: exploring Uttarakhand: "The Land of the Gods" PART III Co-creating for resilience: transformation through participatory research 5. Co-creating together: gaining knowledge through telling stories 6. What goes wrong and what goes right: correcting the impediments to community cohesion and resilience and analyzing imbalances in theory and practice in India and beyond 7. How the research was done: refl ections and new applications PART IV Contributing to transformation: from learning about emergencies to developing constructive resilience 8. Transformational innovation: the contribution of the Uttarakhand research to community resilience 9. From theory to action: creating constructive resilience through reawakening community consciousness 10. Implementing constructive resilience: co-creating community prosperity
