Why action needs compassion: Creating space for experiences of powerlessness and suffering in participatory action research
Participatory action research is often informed by strength-based approaches such as appreciative inquiry. However, when social change and collective action appear to be difficult, feelings of powerlessness and suffering can arise. There is an ongoing debate on the place and importance of these so-c...
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Published in | Action research (London, England) Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 498 - 517 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London, England
SAGE Publications
01.09.2021
Sage Publications Ltd |
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Abstract | Participatory action research is often informed by strength-based approaches such as appreciative inquiry. However, when social change and collective action appear to be difficult, feelings of powerlessness and suffering can arise. There is an ongoing debate on the place and importance of these so-called negative emotions within strength-based approaches. In a participatory action research project on citizen participation in the Netherlands we encountered a social and political context that was beyond our ability to change. We came to realize that change or action is not always possible in participatory action research and that ‘pushing’ for action can become a disempowering experience for those involved. In this article we share the moral dilemmas that we encountered and reflect on our own learning experiences as academic researchers. We argue that researchers need to anticipate upon these moral challenges by reflecting upon their personal position towards powerlessness and suffering. Nussbaum’s notion of compassion can help researchers to create space for these experiences and to acknowledge these experiences as sources of generative knowledge. Researchers should carefully navigate between fostering action and expressing compassion in participatory action research. With this article we aim to contribute to a care ethical perspective on participatory action research that acknowledges vulnerabilities and precariousness in research practices. |
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AbstractList | Participatory action research is often informed by strength-based approaches such as appreciative inquiry. However, when social change and collective action appear to be difficult, feelings of powerlessness and suffering can arise. There is an ongoing debate on the place and importance of these so-called negative emotions within strength-based approaches. In a participatory action research project on citizen participation in the Netherlands we encountered a social and political context that was beyond our ability to change. We came to realize that change or action is not always possible in participatory action research and that ‘pushing’ for action can become a disempowering experience for those involved. In this article we share the moral dilemmas that we encountered and reflect on our own learning experiences as academic researchers. We argue that researchers need to anticipate upon these moral challenges by reflecting upon their personal position towards powerlessness and suffering. Nussbaum’s notion of compassion can help researchers to create space for these experiences and to acknowledge these experiences as sources of generative knowledge. Researchers should carefully navigate between fostering action and expressing compassion in participatory action research. With this article we aim to contribute to a care ethical perspective on participatory action research that acknowledges vulnerabilities and precariousness in research practices. |
Author | Abma, Tineke A Baur, Vivianne E Duijs, Saskia E |
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Cites_doi | 10.1177/0969733017707008 10.4324/9781315106847 10.4135/9781848607934 10.1007/s11019-017-9766-1 10.1017/CBO9780511840715 10.18352/jsi.186 10.1017/CBO9780511520891 10.1002/jcop.20208 10.1080/09650790600975809 10.1080/09650790500200291 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198237907.001.0001 10.4278/0890-1171-6.3.197 10.1080/09650792.2012.676302 10.1080/09650790902914241 10.1080/21582041.2013.769618 10.1017/S1474746413000158 10.1007/s11019-015-9642-9 10.1177/1049732308324249 10.1177/0261018314544266 |
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References | Cooperrider, Srivastava 1987; 1 Cook 2009; 17 Todres 2008; 18 Vosman, Niemeijer 2017; 20 Verhoeven, Tonkens 2013; 12 Wallerstein 1992; 6 Boyd, Bright 2007; 35 Van Regenmortel 2009; 18 Olsman, Willems, Leget 2016; 19 Leget, van Nistelrooij, Visse 2019; 26 Grootegoed, Van Barneveld, Duyvendak 2015; 35 Montesano Montessori, Ponte 2012; 20 Zandee 2015; 17 Davis, Sumara 2005; 13 Banks, Armstrong, Carter, Graham, Hayward, Henry, Moore 2013; 8 Jacobs 2006; 14 Groot, Vink, Haveman, Huberts, Schout, Abma 2018 bibr6-1476750319844577 bibr31-1476750319844577 bibr23-1476750319844577 bibr19-1476750319844577 Groot B. C. (bibr15-1476750319844577) 2018 bibr32-1476750319844577 Cooperrider D. L. (bibr12-1476750319844577) 1987; 1 bibr28-1476750319844577 bibr24-1476750319844577 Zandee D. P. (bibr36-1476750319844577) 2015; 17 bibr11-1476750319844577 Van Heijst J. E. J. M. (bibr29-1476750319844577) 2005 bibr33-1476750319844577 bibr7-1476750319844577 bibr16-1476750319844577 Mertens D. M. (bibr21-1476750319844577) 2009 bibr25-1476750319844577 bibr34-1476750319844577 bibr26-1476750319844577 bibr13-1476750319844577 bibr8-1476750319844577 bibr22-1476750319844577 bibr14-1476750319844577 International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research (ICPHR (bibr17-1476750319844577) 2013 bibr18-1476750319844577 |
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SubjectTerms | Action research Alienation Citizen participation Collective action Compassion Learning Participatory action research Political factors Political participation Researchers Social change Suffering |
Title | Why action needs compassion: Creating space for experiences of powerlessness and suffering in participatory action research |
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