Participation and Social Learning in Church-based Organizations - A Third Approach to Poverty Eradication in Developing Countries

Developing countries are increasingly faced with the lack of alternative institutionsto counter the social processes entrenched in local settings that leadto poverty. In this book the author investigates the potentials of Churchbasedorganizations (CBOs) as alternative mechanisms and suggests a communitarianapproach to poverty eradication as a back up to the past andpresent approaches offered by modernism and post modernism respectively.Both the upcoming theory of Social Learning and the age-old principle ofParticipation are used as a theoretical framework with empirical data fromthe diocese of Ogoja Nigeria. The author investigates key research questionssuch as: How do churches learn to build on the capacity of individuals andgroups as stakeholders that influence poverty eradication at the local level?How do Churches as organizations learn to become social change agents?This book enunciates a new dimension to the development discourse and theongoing fight against poverty and it is highly recommended for scholars ofinternational development in their effort to proffer a holistic solution to theproblem of poverty and its eradication.The third approach to poverty according to the author is a communitarianapproach that examines the organizational dynamics of a diocese in relationto the Social Justice Agenda of the Roman Catholic Church. I recommendthis book to pastors of churches local church communities and their leadersboth in developed and developing countries who seek a sincere approach tosustainable development.Most Rev. Dr. John E. Ayah: Catholic Bishop of Ogoja Nigeria.In this book the author ascribes another perspective to poverty eradication byfocusing on social praxis thus giving a practical dimension to the roleof religion especially for communities in developing countries. As a scientist Irecommend this book to researchers in general in a quest for the meaning ofdevelopment.Derek Cabrera: PhD in Human Ecology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA.