From modern slavery to environmental breakdown, the most urgent challenges of our time demand approaches that can work with complexity, rapidly adapt and catalyse lasting change through the agency of ordinary people.
This book introduces Systemic Action Research (SAR) – a participatory methodology designed to transform “hard to shift” patterns and dynamics in systems. Having implemented more than 30 large-scale SAR programmes worldwide, the authors combine systems thinking, complexity theory and participatory practice to show how to design, facilitate and evaluate change processes involving large numbers of system actors in interlinked action research initiatives.
Featuring rich case studies, this is an invaluable guide for those committed to enabling large-scale social transformation and tackling complex crises.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Part 1: The evolution of Systemic Action Research
Chapter 1: Participatory Action Research
Chapter 2: Systemic and Complexity Based Change
Chapter 3: Systemic Action Research
Part 2: Designing Systemic Action Research
Chapter 4: The Ground-Level Systemic Action Research Design
Chapter 5. The Meta-Level Systemic Action Research Design
Part 3: Detailed Cases of Systemic Action Research
Chapter 6: The CLARISSA Programme on Worst Forms of Child Labour in Bangladesh and Nepal (2018-24)
Chapter 7: The “Vestibule de la Paix” Peace Building Programme in Mali (2019-24)
Chapter 8: Alternative Approaches to SAR
Part 4: Practical Considerations for Quality Systemic Action Research
Chapter 9: Facilitation of Systemic Action Research
Chapter 10: Documentation and Evaluation of Systemic Action Research
Chapter 11: Ethics, Power and Risk in Systemic Action Research
About the Author :
Danny Burns was until 2024 Professor at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. He is now an activist writer and facilitator focusing on progressive social change.
Marina Apgar is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.
