Empowerment as a theoretical alternative for Latin America

This article constitutes a critique to the empowerment notion developed by Community Psychology, particularly in the United States. The discussion is framed by one of the central objectives of the discipline, i.e. social chan ge. It initiates the exploration of empowerment as a theoretical alternativ e for Latin America, focusing on the conditions that facilitate the process , the research levels that should emerge from this theory, the role that so cial agents who intend to promote empowerment efforts should play, and poss ibilities of reaching this objective.