The concept of community is among the most contested of social science ideas. At the heart of this book is an examination of the concept’s unique ability to represent the notion of collective well-being and positive social relations and to denote a description or categorisation of social problems and ‘problem populations’.

This paradox makes the idea of community particularly valuable for understanding the diverse and complex ways in which social welfare and crime control policies affect each other.

The chapters are organised to make sense of community in a range of ways: as a theoretical, political and populist discourse; as a vehicle for policy interventions; as an instrument of social governance and social ordering; and as a basis of collective action.

The book considers community within historical and contemporary contexts, in the UK and internationally. It highlights many of the key social science debates as well as a diverse range of early 21st century policy agendas and social issues, such as social cohesion, community safety and anti-social behaviour.

Each chapter highlights issues of evidence and the role that different forms of social data play in the analysis of ideas of community and communities.

Community is a key text for students on social policy, sociology, criminology and general social sciences courses.

Contributors: John Clarke, Allan Cochrane, Gordon Hughes, Gerry Mooney, Sarah Neal, Janet Newman, Sharon Pinkney and Esther Saraga.