ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses critical research needs that involve the ability of people and appropriate tactics to plan, implement, and sustain change in the 1980s. It focuses on changing conditions in rural America and how these conditions will affect the likelihood of people becoming involved in community development and engaging in efforts to improve humanistic aspects of community life. Citizen participation is not synonymous with community development, but it is a means toward realizing the humanistic aspects of community development, for community development can only be sustained effectively through public involvement. The increasing recognition of the limitations of government to "do for people" appears to be stimulating the renaissance of self-help efforts among all segments of the population. In the 1980s, conflict management may be essential for effective local decision making in rural areas. The goal of community development is to help "community people to become subjects instead of objects, acting on their stituation instead of simply reacting".
