爲了因應全球化所導致的社會、經濟問題與國家正當性危機，先進國家無不致力於尋求低成本而有效能的治理方法。在此一趨勢下，提昇社區「自立自助」成爲「地方治理」的主軸；經由「社區賦權」強化居民企業精神，以追求地方經濟發展，則成爲提昇社區自立自助的手段。本方認爲，社區賦權政策在鄉村地區的應用上，由於受到鄉村外在經濟結構與內在社會結構的限制，必須以區域合作爲基礎，著重城鄉聯結、區域財政自主；並且建立社區規劃師制度，以公開化的計晝過程擴大民眾參與，才可能使社區賦權成爲促進鄉村發展的有效手段。
In order to unravel the social, economic problems and the state legitimacy crisis during the globalization process, many advanced countries have been searching actively for cost-effective technologies of governmentality. Under this circumstance to stimulate community self-help becomes the focus of local governance. Moreover, promoting local economic development via community empowerment has been the way of motivating community self-help. However, this paper suggests that the effectiveness of community empowerment policies is constrained deeply by the external economic structures and internal social structures of rural areas. Therefore, these schemes should base on regional integration, urban-rural solidarity and regional financial self-sufficiency. Also, to establish systems of community planners and advocate public participation are essential to make community empowerment an effective means of promoting rural development.
