Abstract
In this paper I discuss the clash of values between the Old Order Amish community of Ontario and the dominant social paradigm in agriculture. Land-use and agricultural regulations, designed for an industrial style of agriculture, are experienced as a threat to the survival of the Old Order Amish agricultural social economy and community. The paper describes how I have worked with the Old Order Amish to respond to these challenges and to create public policies that will allow them to maintain their human and agricultural diversity and small-scale sustainable farm practices. Four case studies illuminating the oppressive land-use regulations along with the emancipatory responses to the oppression are examined. The social transformation themes include principles and processes for community psychologists, land-use planners, and community economic development practitioners to consider. The article has heuristic value for a practice-based approach to social change.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barlow, M., & Campbell, B. (1993). Take back the nation 2: Meeting the threat of NAFTA. Toronto: Key Porter.
Bennett, E. M. (1970). A social systems approach to health planning in rural communities. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
Bennett, E. M. (1987). Social intervention: Theory and practice. In E. M. Bennett (Ed.), Social intervention: Theory and practice (pp. 1328). Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen.
Bennett, E. M., (1992). Communitybased economic development: A strategy for primary prevention. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 11(2), 1133.
Bennett, E. M., & Heise, D. (1998). Fair share for farmers: Communityshared agriculture. In M. MacAdam (Ed.), From corporate greed to common good: Canadian churches and community economic development (pp. 106114). Ottawa, ON: Novalis.
Cahill, J. (1983). Structural characteristics of the macroeconomy and mental health: Implications for primary prevention research. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 553571.
Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). (1994). Statement of values and code of professional conduct. Ottawa, ON: Author.
Catalano, R., & Dooley, D. (1980). Economic change in primary prevention. In R. H. Price, R. F. Kettere, B. C. Bader, & J. Monahan (Eds.), Prevention in mental health: Research, policy and practice (pp. 2140). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Cruickshank, J. (1994). The consequences of our actions: A value issue in community devlopment. Community Development Journal, 29, 7589.
Etzionoi, A. (1967). Mixed scanning: A “third” approach to decisionmaking. Public Administration Review, 27, 385292.
Friedmann, J. (1973). Retracking America: A theory of transactive planning. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press.
Gingerich, O. (1972). The Amish of Canada. Waterloo, ON: Conrad Grebel College.
Goldenberg, I. I. (1978). Oppression and social intervention. Chicago: NelsonHall.
Goudzwaard, B., & de Lange, H. (1995). Beyond poverty and affluence. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Grinnell, S. U. (1969). An integrative process for urban and sociotechnical problemsolving. Cleveland, OH: Engineering Design Center and Organizational Behavior Groups, Case Western Reserve University.
Kelly, J. G. (1990). Changing contexts and the field of community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 769792.
Kline, D. (1990). Great possessions: An Amish farmer's journal. New York: North Point Press.
Kneen, B. (1993). From land to mouth: Understanding the food system. Toronto, ON: NC Press.
Kneen, B. (1999). Farmageddon: Food and the culture of biotechnology. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society.
Korten, D. C. (1995). When corporations rule the world. San Francisco, CA: BerretKoelher.
Kraybill, D. B. (1989). The riddle of Amish culture. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.
Lockhart, A. (1987). Communitybased development and conventional economics in the Canadian north. In E. M. Bennett (Ed.), Social intervention: Theory and practice (pp. 393414). Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen.
Matthews, R. (1976). There's no better place than here: Social change in three Newfoundland communities. Toronto, ON: Peter Martin.
Matthews, R. (1983). The creation of regional dependency. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
McRobie, G. (1982). Small is possible. London: Sphere.
Mills, C. W. (1959). The sociological imagination. New York: Oxford University Press.
Mitchell, B. (1997). Resource and environmental management. Essex, England: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd.
Moghaddam, F. M., & Suder, C. (1997). Crosscultural psychology: The frustrated gadfly's promises, potentialities, and failures. In D. Fox & I. Prilleltensky (Eds.), Critical psychology: An introduction (pp. 185201). London: Sage.
Mornington Township. (1982). Bylaw 221982 of the Township of Mornington. Newton: Corporation of the Township of Mornington.
Ontario. (1997). Planning Act. Toronto: Queen's Printer for Ontario.
Patton, M. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Pirages, D. C., & Ehrlich, P. R. (1974). Ark II: Social response to environmental imperatives. New York: The Viking Press.
Prilleltensky, I. (1999). Critical psychology praxis. In M. Montero (Ed.), Psychology at the end of the century. Caracas: Interamerica Society of Psychology.
Prilleltensky, I. (2001). Valuebased praxis in community psychology: Moving towards social justice and social action. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 747778.
Prilleltensky, I., & Gonick, I. (1994). The discourse of oppression in the social sciences: Past, present, and future. In E. J. Trickett, R. J. Watts, & D. Birman (Eds.), Human diversity: Perspectives on people in context (pp. 145177). San Francisco: JosseyBass.
Prilleltensky, I., & Nelson, G. (1997). Community psychology: Reclaiming social justice. In D. Fox & I. Prilleltensky (Eds.), Critical psychology: An introduction (pp. 166184). London: Sage.
Pugh, T. (1987). Fighting the farm crisis. Saskatoon, SK: Fifth House.
Rappaport, J. (1995). Empowerment meets narrative: Listening to stories and creating settings. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(5), 795807.
Seidman, E., & Rapkin, B. (1983). Economics and psychosocial dysfunction: Toward a conceptual framework and prevention strategies. In R. D. Felner, L. A. Jason, J. N. Moritsugu, & S. S. Farber (Eds.), Preventive psychology: Theory, research and practice (pp. 175198). New York: Pergamon Press.
Sim, R. A. (1988). Land and community. Guelph, ON: Raithby House, University of Guelph.
Trachy, R. (1996, April 26). Her Majesty the Queen vs. Kuepfer and Wagler: Reasons for Judgement. Stratford, ON: Ontario Court of Justice.
Watts, R. J. (1992). Elements of a psychology of human diversity. Journal of Community Psychology, 20(2), 116131.
Watts, R. J., Griffith, D. M., & AbdulAdil, J. (1999). Sociopolitical development as an antidote for oppression—theory and action. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27(2), 255271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bennett, E.M. Emancipatory Responses to Oppression: The Template of Land-Use Planning and the Old Order Amish of Ontario. Am J Community Psychol 31, 157–171 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023086923232
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023086923232