Am J Community Psychol (2009) 43:9899

DOI 10.1007/s10464-008-9225-5

INTRODUCTION

Why a Special Section About Community Psychology and Politics

Maritza Montero

Published online: 7 January 2009

Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

From its beginnings community psychology has been oriented towards social change. Both in Latin America, as in
the United States, social transformations were put as the
ultimate goal of its practice, thus carrying out what Heller
and Monahan, in 1977 (p. 3), referred as a quiet revolution. This conviction about the necessity to transform
social conditions is political, in the sense of politics as the
rightful occupation of public space in equal terms, by any
citizen; and in such a way so they have the right and
possibility to be heard, to express their ideas and opinions,
and to receive answers to their demands, according to the
law. This zeitgeist has been present all along the
American continent. And also is felt in other regions of the
World where community psychology is trying to provide
answers to social problems.
The papers presented in this special section respond to a
community based perspective. They are directed to communities while at the same time stemming from them, so
they carry the voice of those communities and present
answers to those voices, thus illustrating their political
community condition.
In these papers can be identified several common
aspects, in spite of coming from countries very distant
between them (Australia, Norway, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela). Firstly, I should mention the importance of the
concept and practice of participation, as the main tool of
community psychology. It is presented both as the mean
and the end of the psychology practiced by the authors, as
well as the base of community action. One can see how
participation is present in the ideas for constructing a
politically reflective clinical community psychology
M. Montero (&)
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
e-mail: mmonteroster@gmail.com

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proposed by Llorens in order to address the mental health

problems of society sectors not usually reached by most of
the public services created in developing countries, and
also in some developed ones. It is present also in one of the
main challenges for current community psychology: how
to participate in public policies development and implementation in order to generate social changes positive for
the communities supposed to be their target (Bishop, Vicary, Browne and Guard; Rodrguez, and also in Bess;
Prilleltensky, Perkins and Collins). And participation is
also at the basis of the citizenship construction programme
described in my own paper.
Including community psychology perspectives, methods
and resources as well as the participation of communities
which should be benefited by public policies, in the elaboration of those policies is a goal to achieve. Developed,
developing or frankly recognized as poor countries need to
bridge the gap between those policies and their recipients.
Participatory and reflective democracy, a political idea
seriously understood in the community field, should be also
put into practice by policy-makers. And this should not be
like waltzing with a monster, as in the acute metaphor
presented by Shinn (2007). Community psychology in
assuming its political condition should be able to reach the
level of influence necessary for the direct consultation of
recipients of those policies in the communities, and
implementing their participation. Our discipline should be
able to overcome in those cases, situations as those mentioned by Bess, Prilleltensky, Perkins and Collins, where
the problem is putting the weight of participation on the
communities, while at the same time directing them to
work as the external agents consider fit (you do it, like we
do it). Partnership, as the authors mentioned recommend is
the community psychology way. Collaboration and partnership with mutual respect should be the norm.

Am J Community Psychol (2009) 43:9899

Language is another aspect playing an important role.

Nafstad, Blakar, Carlquist, Phelps and Rand-Hendriksen
show how the way the Norwegian media refer to important
aspects of economy and everyday life aspects can have an
influence on the Norwegian States welfare system, thus
affecting communities in their everyday life. Changing
oppressive, repressive, violent or excluding relationships is
another aspect that underlines these papers. An aspect
directly related to democratic ideas. Community psychology should therefore be part of a political culture expressed
in forms of political actions carried out from and by
the communities, and also by the State towards them.
Participation, as said before, together with reflective

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consciousness (conscientisation) are the two main aspects

configuring a community psychology empowered and
empowering.

References
Heller, K., & Monahan, J. (1977). Psychology and community change.
Homewood, IL: Dorsey.
Shinn, M. (2007). Waltzing with a monster: Bringing research to bear
on public policy. Journal of Social Issues, 63, 215231.

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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.