On Militancy, Self-reflection, and the Role of the Researcher

http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/B4uXKMnkjvgZbYkknvQW/full
Date Written:  2018-09-20
Publisher:  Taylor and Francis Online
Year Published:  2018
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX23062

Researcher Jared Sacks examines and questions methodologies of social movement researchers through a self-reflective investigation into his own experience and work.

Abstract: 
--

Excerpt:

This paper began in response to Ibrahim Steyn's work on Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape, (AbM-WC) - a Cape Town-based social movement I was involved with for a few years. An initial desire for clarity evolved into a self-reflective investigation into my own work with the movement's base community, QQ-Section. Throughout the paper, I problematise certain contradictions in my involvement thereby taking Steyn's work and the call for critical research seriously. This led me to re-evaluate my praxis, giving me the opportunity to question methodologies of social movement researchers. To account for the problematic role the investigator plays, I propose alternative militant, thorough, and self-critical ways of conducting research.