Mechanisms of power within a community-based food security planning process

Christine McCullum, David Pelletier, Donald Barr, Jennifer Wilkins, Jean Pierre Habicht

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A community food security movement has begun to address problems of hunger and food insecurity by utilizing a community-based approach. Although various models have been implemented, little empirical research has assessed how power operates within community-based food security initiatives. The purpose of this research was to determine how power influenced participation in decision-making, agenda setting, and the shaping of perceived needs within a community-based food security planning process, with particular reference to disenfranchised stakeholders. Power influenced participation in decision-making, agenda setting, and the shaping of perceived needs through managing 1) problem framing, 2) trust, 3) knowledge, and 4) consent. To overcome these mechanisms of power, practitioners need to address individual-, community-, and institutional-level barriers to participation in community-based food security planning processes. Practitioners and researchers can work with disenfranchised groups to determine which agents have the power to create desired changes by utilizing theory-based methods and strategies that focus on changing external determinants at multiple levels.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)206-222
Number of pages17
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2004

Keywords

  • Community food security
  • Critical perspective
  • Power

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanisms of power within a community-based food security planning process'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this