Teaching Community Organizing? A Postmodernist Comparison Between Alinsky's Conflict and Eichler's Consensus Models

Abstract

Social work students are expected to develop competency in and be able to use macro practice concepts in communities. One common area of macro practice involves organizing communities to improve socioeconomic environments. This article compares 2 prevailing models of community organization— Alinsky's conflict and Eichler's consensus models— from a postmodernist perspective. The goal is to guide educators and students in determining the appropriate use of each model based on the conditions influencing the need to organize. A case study is included to provide an opportunity to engage in a critical thinking exercise aimed at further honing practitioners’ skills.