Harmful, Helpful, or Both? A Commentary on Postmodernism and Critical Theories in Community Development Education

Abstract

In this relatively informal commentary, I discuss both the potentially helpful and harmful roles that postmodernism and critical theories (e.g., critical race theory, critical sexuality theory) have in academia in general and particularly in community development scholarship and pedagogy. After introducing postmodernism and critical theories as well as some of the common criticisms of these frameworks, I discuss the importance of cultural capital in community development and the ways that postmodernism and critical theories can both protect and maintain cultural capital as well as damage and diminish it. I also discuss the importance of ensuring that students in community development courses understand these frameworks and understand that they are but some of the theories and skills students will need to know to be effective and ethical community development scholars and practitioners. The duty of educators is to ensure that students have the abilities and support to do the hard work of critically evaluating and analyzing all viable approaches to community development work.