Growing worldwide interest in community economic development has led to a blossoming of “how to” manuals,as well as analyses of co-operatives, development corporations, gender, financing, etc. Yet in all this discussion very little is said about the basic objective of CED: Is it designed to fill holes left by capitalism or is it intended to replace it? There is equally little on a theory of CED. This book draws on several disciplines–particularly economics, sociology and political studies–to assess the state of CED theory and to identify implicit issues for building that theory. It emphasizes the necessity to draw theoretical insights from each discipline, in the process howing the efficacy of interdisciplinary approaches. It concludes with a discussion of both future theoretical directions and of what existing theory has to say about achieving a transformative CED.

Born in Sheffield, England, John Loxley came to Manitoba in 1974 to work for the NDP. He became deeply involved for many years with several Aborignal organizations. In 1977, Loxley became a Professor of Economics and the University of Manitoba and later became the head of the department. In 1991, Loxley formed Cho¡ces—A Caoalition For Social Justice—in response to the neo-conservative policy decisions being made by the Winnipeg City Council and the Government of Manitoba. Loxley received the Joe Zuken Citizen Activist Award in 200 for outstanding contribution to the social, political, and cultural life of Winnipeg.

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