Neighborhood Self-Management: Experiments in Civil Society

175 Pages·2001·2.879 MB·English

by  Hillel Schmid (auth.)

Neighborhood
Self-Management
Experiments in Civil Society
NONPROFIT AND CIVIL SOCIETY STUDIES
An International Multidisciplinary Series
Series Editor: Helmut K. Anheier
London School ofEconomics and Political Science
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CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PROFESSIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE
Social Change and Organizational Innovation in Poland
S. Wojciech Sokolowski
NEIGHBORHOOD SELF-MANAGEMENT
Experiments in Civil Society
Hillel Schmid
PRIVATE FUNDS, PUBLIC PURPOSE
Philanthropic Foundations in International Perspective
Edited by Helmut K. Anheier and Stefan Toepler
THE PRIVATE NONPROFIT SECTOR
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N eighborhood
Self-Management
Experiments in Civil Society
HILLEL SCHMID
Hebrew University of }emsalem
}emsalem, Israel
SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, LLC
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schmid, Hillel.
Neighborhood self-management: experiments in civil society/Hillel Schmid.
p. cm. - (Nonprofit and civil society studies)
lncludes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4613-5466-6 ISBN 978-1-4615-1259-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4615-1259-2
1. Citizens' associations. 2. Neighborhood government. 3. Citizens'
associations-Jerusalem. 4. Neighborhood government-
Jerusalem. 1. Title. Il. Series.
JS211 .535 2001
323' .042-dc21
00-047986
ISBN 978-1-4613-5466-6
©2001 Springer Science+ Business Media New York
Originally published by Kluwer Academic I Plenum Publishers in 2001
Softcover reprint of the hardcover lst edition 2001
AII righ ts reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or
otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
To Tikva, Yaron, Michal, and Noam
My private community
PREFACE
Overthepasttwo decades, Westerncountrieshavewitnessedchanges in the
governanceoflocalauthorities. Duringthatperiod, governmentalauthority
and traditional governmental functions have gradually shifted to local
authoritiesatthemunicipallevel.Inkeepingwiththistrend,thegovernments
haveattempted to diminish their role in the provision ofsocial,human, and
communal services and encouraged nongovernmental organizations to
penetrate thearena ofservicespreviously suppliedbythe government.
In the community domain, neighborhood organizations that encourage
citizen involvement and participation in policymaking and decisions
concerningtheir life and well-being havegainedincreasinginfluence. In this
regard, the emergence ofthe community council and its development as a
unique entity in the municipal arena is particularly noteworthy. The
community council reflects an advanced stage in the development of
community and voluntary organizations that lacked the organizational and
professional infrastructure, know-how, and technologies, as well as the
competencetocopewiththepowerfulgovernmentalandmunicipalestablish
ment.
The community council reflects the developed civic consciousness ofthe
city's residents, whodemand responses to theirchangingand heterogeneous
needs. In this context, neighborhood residents have sought to establish a
powerful and influential organization that serves them and represents their
interests vis-a.-vis the municipal and governmental authorities.
This book provides a comprehensive description of the emergence and
developmentoftheseorganizations.Theanalysisthatfollowsthedescription
derivesfromtheapplicationoforganizationaltheories,whichareparticularly
relevant to thisclass oforganizations. Theconceptsrelated to these theories
focus on the relationships between the organizations and theirenvironment
aswellasonthepolitical, social, economic, technological, and demographic
vii
viii PREFACE
constraints that have a significant impact on the functioning of the
neighborhood organizations.
Thisbookdescribestheneighborhoodorganizationsknownascommunity
councils,whichoperateintheuniqueurbansettingofJerusalem. Emphasisis
placed on the structural tensions involved in transferring authority and
powers from the central municipal system to neighborhood organizations.
Moreover, the book compares the Jerusalem councils with neighborhood
organizationsinothercities throughout the world. This perspectiveexposes
thereaderto thedemocraticprocessesassociatedwiththeestablishmentofa
civil society that counterbalances the state and its formal institutions, and
providesnew insights into the topicdiscussed in this volume. On the whole,
politicalleadersandadministratorshavebecomeawarethaturbanandsocial
services cannot be provided solely by the centralized municipal authority.
They have recognized the need to transfer municipal functions and roles to
neighborhoodorganizations,whichmaintainadirect,closerelationshipwith
residents. Toward this end, the neighborhood organizations are capable of
identifyingtheresidents'specialneedsandprovidingimmediateresponses,in
awaythatexpeditesbureaucraticdecision-makingprocessesandreducesred
tape. The comparative analysis of dilemmas encountered by the emerging
communitycouncil in Jerusalem and similarneighborhood organizations in
other parts ofthe world also highlights the common ideological, structural,
and managerial dilemmas shared by organizations that seek to strengthen
theirinfluenceondecision-makingprocessesatthemunicipallevelandensure
high-quality servicesfor broad, heterogeneous targetpopulations.
Since my research deals with complex organizations in general, and with
socialandcommunityorganizationsinparticular,Itookapersonalinterestin
theJerusalemexperiment.TheemergenceofcommunitycouncilsinJerusalem
aspresentedinthisbookprovidedtheimpetusforexaminingthedevelopment
andimplementationoftheideafromanacademicperspective.Concomitantly,
Iparticipatedin theprocessofbuildingtheorganization'snewidentity. Not
onlydidIprovideconsultationandguidance,butIalsoplayedanactiverolein
formulating the organizational ideology and strategy of the community
councils, and helped them establish their administrative and professional
infrastructure. Somemayaskhowascholarwhoispersonallyinvolvedinthe
process can provide an objective, scientific, and rational evaluation ofthe
process that led to the birth of the new organization. Although active
involvementintheprocessmaybiasscientificobservationandcriticalanalysis,
PREFACE IX
IdidnotfeelthiswaywhileIwasconductingtheresearch.Ifeltthatbesidesmy
experience as an organizational scientist, my involvement in the real life of
organizationsaddedinsightsintotheprocessestakingplaceinthosecontexts.
Thebookdescribestheseprocesses,basedonalongitudinalresearchprojectI
conductedfrom 1992to 1997.
Many people were involved in the research process. First of all, I am
indebted to my research assistants Geula Silberman, Yosay Unterman, and
Dr. TamarZilberfor collecting thedataandconductingin-depthinterviews
with the directors and staffmembers ofthe neighborhood organizations.
I would like to acknowledge the important role of the Jerusalem
Association of Community Councils and Centers, which encouraged this
projectand recognizeditsaddedvalue towardpromotingtheespousedgoals
of the new organization. I also express my gratitude to the Israel Joint
Distribution Committee (J.D.C.), which provided support for the study.
Specialthanksaredue to the members ofthe researchsteeringcommittee
Professor Uri Yanay, Mr. Zvi Chernichovsky, Dr. David Klausner, Mr.
Yossi Cohen, Mr. Michael Ganor, Ms. Nili Schory, and Ms. Shlomit
Shimron- forsharingtheirknowledgeandexperiencewithme,andfortheir
insightsininterpretingthe data.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem provided funds for editing and
publication ofthemanuscript. Aspecial note ofappreciationisdue to Ms.
Mimi Schneiderman, who worked diligently and devoted considerable time
and energy towardeditingthe manuscriptand preparingitfor publication.
Last but not least, this volume is dedicated to my wife Tikva and my
children Yaron, Michal, and Noam. Throughout the years, they have
supported me in my professional career and given me the love and
encouragementthatenabled me to complete this book.
The analysis and evaluation of findings are based on comprehensive
exploration and assimilation ofthe processes and dilemmas described, and
reflect my own professional values and perspectives. I therefore take sole
responsibility for anyshortcomings thatmaycome to light. Ihope the book
will provide policymakers with new insights into the emergence of the
neighborhood organization. I also hope it will be useful to teachers and
studentsinterestedin the field ofcommunitydevelopmentand management
ofneighborhood organizations.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Introduction •..•.•••..•.....•..•.•..•....••••.• 1
Structure ofthe Book 6
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework .•...•••.•.••......•••.•••. 11
Organizational and Structural Factors Influencing
Decentralization ofAuthority 17
Adaptation to a Rapidly Changing, Turbulent,
Uncertain, Heterogeneous Environment 17
Organizational Growth and Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Heterogeneity ofProducts and Services 19
The Decision-Making Process 19
Mechanisms ofCoordination and Channels of
Communication 19
Self-Restraint at the Managerial Apex 20
The Power Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chapter 3: The Neighborhood Self-Management Organization:
Background, Vision, Ideology, and Organizational Domain .• 27
The Changing Context ofHuman and Social Services .... 27
The Role ofVoluntary Nonprofit Organizations in
Providing Social and Communal Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The Nature ofNeighborhood Organizations 32
Domain Consensus ofthe Neighborhood Organization 35
Vision and Espoused Goals .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
xi
xii CONTENTS
Chapter 4: Neighborhood Self-Management Organizations:
An International Perspective •..•.•..••••......••••. 43
Community Councils in Scotland 44
Community Councils in England 47
Community Councils in Wales 49
Neighborhood Committees in the Netherlands 51
Neighborhood Councils in Italy 52
Neighborhood Councils in the Nordic Countries 54
Community Councils in Canada 56
Neighborhood Self-Management in the United States 60
Neighborhood Associations in Japan 67
Community Boards in Christchurch, New Zealand 69
Chapter 5: The Community Council as a Merger ofTwo
Neighborhood Organizations: Neighborhood Self-
Management and Community Centers •..••••.••••••..• 73
The Population ofJerusalem: A General Description 73
Territorial Growth and Population Size 74
Demographic and Social Characteristics 77
Economic Characteristics ofthe Population 78
The Emergence ofNeighborhood Self-Management
Organizations in Jerusalem 81
The Neighborhood Self-Management Organization 82
The Community Center 83
The Merging Process: Driving and Restraining Forces 89
Driving Forces 91
Restraining Forces 93
Findings ofa Study on Community Councils
in Jerusalem, 1992-1997 98
Chapter 6: Ideological, Structural, and Organizational Dilemmas of
Neighborhood Organizationsin International Perspective •• 115
Lack ofa Defined Legal Status and Political Legitimation 118
Dependence on External Funding Sources . . . . . . . . . . .. 122