Sustainability of research practice for social justice: a generation of politics and method

Abstract

Purpose — To provide an historical and biographical account of opposition to action research using concepts from critical social science in order to outline the latest response in theory and practice of critical participatory action research.

Design/methodology/approach — Biography and history in the action research field are subjected to critique by a key participant to provide new ways of conceptualizing social practice and the activities of communities of practice. Work by social theorists Jürgen Habermas and Theodore Schatzki is used to propose new conditions for the legitimation and validation of knowledge and action of participants when they agree to work together to make their own social practices more just, rational, coherent, sustainable and satisfying for all those involved and affected.

Findings — The chapter establishes some key principles derived from theory and practice of action research and 'public spheres' to guide the work of participants who are increasingly subjected to technical forms of rationality and accountability, which diminish their capacity to work together on their own shared legitimate concerns.