Ferdinand Tonnies through its decline within "mass society" and current revival as a valued field of practical knowledge. Lyon gives extensive attention to four of the most fruitful approaches to the study of communities: typology, ecology, systems theory, and conflict theory. He gives readers sound advice to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and to make use of the approach that best fits the question under investigation. The book emphasizes the importance of relating what we know about communities to the prospect for improving them. In this connection, special emphasis is given to what has been learned about the structure and exercise of power to influence decisions within communities.

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