Community, Liberalism and the Capabilities Approach

Abstract

The decline of community institutions and the increasing erosion of community infrastructure is a serious problem with consequences for human well-being. The political and economic theories of liberalism have contributed to this decline. This work examines two branches of liberalism: economic liberalism, and normative liberalism, arguing that the former has contributed to the decline of community, and that the latter has failed to recognize and protect it. I argue that the capabilities approach theory of Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen provides an improved foundation for recognizing and protecting community as a human capability that all persons should have access to. By recognizing individual autonomy as well as community participation, and by focusing on capabilities rather than primary goods or utilities, the capabilities approach builds on the achievements of liberalism while also drawing on important Aristotelian insights related to human well-being and flourishing.