Community Power, Power Studies and the Sociology of Knowledge

Abstract

American social scientists have long been interested in community power structures, but most methodological and substantive developments in this area of research have occurred only in the past fifteen years or so. The published social science literature bearing on this topic now includes well over six hundred items written primarily by political scientists and sociologists. There have been over eighty systematic attempts to present an overall, composite description of the structure of power in particular communities; this research will be our central concern in this paper. These studies are accompanied in the literature by hundreds of critiques of methodological approaches, attempts at conceptual refinement, studies of narrower facets of community political processes, and reviews and commentaries on particular studies. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to consider the field of community power from a sociology of knowledge perspective by extending the discussion in an earlier research note, and secondly, to point to some procedural guides that seem appropriate for use in further research in this and other areas characterized by "chronic controversies."

Small Communities and Fluoridation; Three Case‐studies*

“…Unlike the other two villages reported, Hartsdale has no single large issue before it, such as construction of a sewer in Barres or the construction of a highway in Brownsville, but still many similarities in the kinds of issues faced by each of the three communities can be pointed out: (1) an immediate and critical need exists for more physicians in the area (one physician was practicing by the end of 1971); (2) Most of the campaigning for it a t that time was provided by Hartsdale's only dentist. The result of the vote was 4:l in opposition, and the issue remained dormant for 13 years until the current study was undertaken* after the referendum the chiropractor ran for public office and has been serving either as mayor or trustee since.…”

“…Journal of Public Health Dentistry (2) In 1971 a school building-program recommended by a citizens' committee was accepted by the voters after prior defeat of four programs formulated by the school board without community participation or support.…”

“…In a review of the history of the issue o n fluoridation in Brownsville, fluoridation seems to have been affected by the situations existing in the community. When fluoridation became an issue in the early 1960's, several conditions may have influenced the attitudes and behavior of residents: (1) the community had been dealt an economic blow in the late 1950's by the decline in production of oil and the loss of the refinery, hence the concern of the community's leaders was directed toward the attraction of new industries; (2)…”

The Sociology of Knowledge in American Sociology: Origins, Development, and Future

“…These decisions, along with reportorial styles, are key factors that selectively determine the nature of the findings that will reach the s'cientific public. The data and hypotheses suggest the importance of developing the sociology of knowledge perspective, not as a process for determining truth per se, but as a method for "sensitizing" researchers to: (1) the effect of value premises and individual choices upon research operations and (2) corrective measures to counteract these effects (Curtis and Petras, 1970a).…”