The first forty years: the history of the Community Development Journal

This article provides a critical and informed account of thefirst forty years in the history of the Community DevelopmentJournal. First published in 1966, the Journal has attemptedto effectively reflect the changing and dynamic field of communitydevelopment internationally. During the last four decades, thesuccess of the CDJ has been due to the hard work of committedEditorial Board members. However, the Board has been consciousthat being drawn almost wholly from the UK, there is the potentialfor the Journal's content to be focused in one country. TheBoard has addressed this possible problem by establishing themedissues on different world regions, on establishing an activeInternational Editorial Advisory Board and through buildingrelationships with organizations such as the International Associationfor Community Development. Nevertheless, there is a need toensure these features are well maintained if the Journal isto continue to produce the leading international peer-reviewedjournal it now is.