Power, control, communities and health inequalities III: participatory spaces—an English case

• DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa059
• Publication Date: 2020-08-04T19:28:52Z
• Authors: Katie Powell; Amy Barnes; Rachel Anderson d...; Clare Bambra; Emma Halliday; Sue Lewis; Rory McGill; Lois Orton; Ruth Ponsford; Sarah Salway; Anne Townsend; Margaret Whitehead; Jennie Popay
• Keywords: Disadvantaged; Sense of Community

This article-third in a series of three-uses theoretical frameworks described Part 1, and empirical markers reported 2, to present evidence on how power dynamics shifted during the early years major English community empowerment initiative. We demonstrate capabilities disadvantaged communities require exercise collective control over decisions/actions impacting their lives health (conceptualized as emancipatory power) these limiting were shaped by characteristics participatory spaces created and/or associated with this Two main types identified: governance sense-making. Though all forms emerged spaces, some more evident particular spaces. In development enactment 'power to' residents made formal decisions action, allocated resources managed accountability. Capabilities for alliance building-power with-were likely emerge was residents' resistance institutional them. contrast, sense-making met informally 'made sense' local issues ability influence these. These processes led within resist stigmatizing productive power. The findings highlight importance designing initiatives that: nurture diverse spaces; attend connectivity between identify act existing undermining communities.