ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with some discussion and a working definition of the empowerment concept. It illustrates the principles embodied in the concept with the use of a case study, a programme of support for young families called Family Matters. The chapter discusses several issues raised by the Family Matters example which have special significance for those who would apply the social sciences in the service of individuals, local communities and the larger society. While no comprehensive attempt to trace its roots has yet been undertaken, the concept of empowerment appears to have emerged in the United States during the early 1970s in response to the social and economic power struggles of the previous decade. With such lineage it can be assumed that political ideology played a part in shaping the meaning of the concept. The chapter exposes a number of the theoretical dimensions involved with the concept of empowerment.
