Research and activism: ideas for scholars and activists

The resources in this section aim to support researchers engaged in action research involving civil society organisations and movements for social change. They offer ideas, literature and network to provoke thought and action on making links between scholars and activists.

These resources were compiled by a group of participants in the 2016 STEPS Summer School, facilitated by the STEPS Centre, and supported through a grant from the Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l’Homme (FPH). Through individual work, group discussion and a final plenary session, they aimed to answer the question:

“How can work by the STEPS Centre and its networks and alumni bridge the gap between conventional academic research and practitioner / activist communities?”

The participants are Thabit Jacob, Kennedy Liti Mbeva, Julianna Gwiszcz, Felix Donkor and Shauna Mahajan.

The participants explored the following questions:

  1. Why do scholars get involved in activism?
  2. Ethical challenges
  3. Approaches, channels and platforms
  4. Bridging the gap between research and activism
  5. The Pathways Approach and the Sustainable Development Goals

Video: Bridging research and activism

Watch short reflections by the participants about the process.


1) Why do scholars get involved in activism?

Scholars are sometimes accused of working in ‘ivory towers’, at a distance from the issues and people they study. But many decide to engage with activists to inform their research or translate it into action.

Motivations might include the ‘impact agenda’ of funders, personal desire for change, the inspiration of other academics and more. But scholars also face barriers. They might fear that engaging with activism will expose them to ethical or professional risks, or be limited by time or distance.

The resources in this section were compiled by Thabit Jacob, a participant in the 2016 STEPS Centre Summer School.

Read Thabit’s report

This report builds on the discussion at the Summer School and offers reflections and ideas on the subject.

Scholar activism: motivations and obstacles (PDF)


2) Ethical challenges

As you become involved in activist scholarship for sustainability, you are likely to come across ethical challenges. The knowledge making process raises questions of power, privilege and accountability. Who is setting the research agenda? What kind of knowledge is valued? Are we doing more harm than good? Is it possible, or desirable to be ‘objective’ in order to be rigorous?

This section explores the ethical challenges faced by scholars engaging in activism, and some of the practical strategies they could use to tackle these challenges.

The resources in this section were compiled by Julianna Gwiszcz, a participant in the 2016 STEPS Centre Summer School.

Read Julianna’s report

This report builds on the discussion at the Summer School and offers reflections and ideas on the subject.

Scholar activism: ethical challenges and strategies (PDF)


3) Approaches, channels and platforms

For many years, scholars and activists have found innovative ways to work together. Now, as digital technology becomes widespread around the globe, an increasing number of online spaces are used by scholars, activists and others to communicate. Social media, blogging and the participatory digital tools used in open science are transforming people’s ability to access and create knowledge together.

These digital spaces, however, have not replaced face to face communication. Public spaces including dialogues, workshops or teach-ins remain important in allowing research and social movements to inform each other.

This section outlines some of these platforms and reflects on the changing ways they are used.

The resources in this section were compiled by Kennedy Liti Mbeva, a participant in the 2016 STEPS Centre Summer School.

Read Kennedy’s report

This report builds on the discussion at the Summer School and offers reflections and ideas on the subject.

Scholar activism: approaches, channels and platforms (PDF)


4) Bridging the gap between research and activism

The STEPS Centre’s Pathways Approach, among other approaches and ideas, offers ways to understand pathways to sustainability grounded in social justice. In practice, however, there are numerous boundaries that prevent such useful tools and approaches from serving this purpose.

These include language barriers, a shortage of time for reflection or exploring alternative ways of thinking about problems and solutions, and the difficult power and politics that exist within and between organizations working on environmental and social challenges.

The resources in this section explore some of the challenges of applying the pathways approach in practice, some possible solutions, and links, questions and ideas to provoke further reflection and action.

The resources in this section were compiled by Shauna Mahajan, a participant in the 2016 STEPS Centre Summer School.

Read Shauna’s report

This report builds on the discussion at the Summer School and offers reflections and ideas on the subject.

Bridging the practitioner and scholar divide (PDF)


5) The Pathways Approach and the Sustainable Development Goals

How can pathways for sustainability serve as vehicles for activists in struggles to achieve the United Nations SDGs, and how do such pathways interact with these goals?

Launched in 2015, the SDGs aim to shape a new international agenda for action on sustainability. Given the scope of the goals – from poverty, hunger and health to infrastructure and partnerships – no one discipline or approach will be enough.

The resources in this section explore how scholars and activists working together might highlight overlooked issues, engage with dialogue processes around the SDGs, and learn from multidisciplinary approaches.

The resources in this section were compiled by Felix Donkor, a participant in the 2016 STEPS Centre Summer School.

Read Felix’s report

This report builds on the discussion at the Summer School and offers reflections and ideas on the subject.

Interactions between the SDGs, Pathways for Sustainability Approach and Opportunities for Activism (PDF)