Building a community-based alliance: a communities-of-practice perspective from Ireland

Community organizations work on the frontline supported by local authorities, development agencies and higher education institutions. However, their actions have been curtailed by a reduction in funding over the last ten years and there is evidence of underlying structural challenges. The high levels of small community decline challenge us to develop new insights into the causes of failure and develop innovative approaches to growth. In this article, we adopt a communities of practice perspective to explore the formation of a community-based alliance in Ireland. Data were collected during a series of focus groups with community stakehold-ers. We argue that intense collaboration that cuts across institutional domains is required. Therefore, community-based alliances should form a key part of rural (re)development by providing opportunities for knowledge sharing, peer learning and mutual support. We propose a conceptual framework that illustrates the bene-fits of a structured and coordinated approach.