ABSTRACT
Social interaction and participation lie at the very core of any conceptualization or definition of 'community'. If issues can be addressed through a fresh examination of how local participation in community action is actually performed and practiced then an alternative and conceivably multifaceted definition of 'community' may emerge that is fine-tuned to the current social relations exhibited in the contemporary countryside. Particularly when developments appear to reflect an explicit governmental strategy, applied to both urban and rural areas, which incorporates rhetoric of participation, an emphasis on citizenship and places emphasis on the centrality of 'community'. In essence 'vibrant communities' are those involved in engaging with their own and shaping how this can be achieved. The term 'community self-governance' is employed to define an arena of participation, which extends beyond the parish or community council to embrace all activity that involves a determining role in providing either public services or resources within the community.
