Politics and policies on self-help: notes on the international scene

This paper identifies and describes a few key milestones in the development of policies on self-help at an international level. At its core lies a paradox. Self-help groups are essentially a very local activity; they are generated by individuals coming together to help themselves and each other in their own local communities. They neither need nor are derived from international (or even national) policies for their development. Yet in the last few years, growing attention has been given, at international as well as national level, to the formulation of policies on self-help. It seems appropriate to take a look at what these are and in what ways they have had any local impact, if not directly, on groups, then indirectly, by affecting the climate in which they operate. The policies of two international bodies, both operating in Europe, are considered here. These are the European Community and the World Health Organization, including both its headquarters and the Regional Office for Europe. First, it is useful to set the context, to explore what is meant by a policy on self-help and to introduce some political considerations.