From Community Building to Governing Strangers

Community building, with its emphasis on developing capacities of organizations in low-income communities, is sparking wide interest among public administration practitioners and scholars. However, the community-building literature oversimplifies the complex relationships between individuals, community institutions, and government. Using a structuration approach theorized by Giddens, these interactions are explored using the arrival of new residents—or strangers—as the impetus for community redefinition. The article concludes that all types of communities, not just those typically targeted for community building may benefit from governmental interventions when undergoing transitions.