ABSTRACT
Realizing the limits of the welfare state social consensus, third-way advocates in the UK and Australia have been attempting to revamp community politics in order to address the problem of governance in the new era of globalization. The idea to revamp 'the community' through reinvigorating the agencies of civil society has eventuated because of the need to address the political disillusionment of the electorate. National governments are having to confront the widespread perception that they are guided solely by economic considerations and are unattached to 'community values'. The government's main concern about the 'misunderstandings' surrounding consultation focused on the belief held by many welfare communities that consultation was a form of participation which they associated with the notion of active citizenship and empowerment. Because the welfare communities believed that consultation meant making an impact on decision making, a great deal of disillusionment with consultation processes became apparent over time.
