Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-191) and index.

Introduction to the idea of community -- The contribution of community studies and increased state intervention in communities and neighbourhoods -- Rethinking community : globalisation, neo-liberalism and inequality -- Community as an area of social policy -- Community as an organising focus for social policy -- Community care : promoting an empowering service or using the market to contain costs? -- Remaking community : communitarianism and the modernisation of the welfare state -- Social work and the community : from theory to practice -- The theory and practice of community of social work -- Community work and community action -- Future possibilities for community-based social work in an international context.