A Call to Action Research: Confronting the Social and Environmental Sustainability Crises

This groundbreaking book issues an urgent call to confront the global social and ecological crises that are destabilizing societies everywhere. Business as usual in social science and governance is no longer sustainable. A Call to Action Research urges academic researchers, citizens, third sector workers, public officials, and businesspeople to join forces for global social justice and ecological sustainability.

Expert action researchers Davydd J. Greenwood, Johan E. Ravn, and Koen P.R. Bartels demonstrate how action research and solidary social action can lead to a sustainable, just, and democratic future. They shed light on the scope and promise of action research, exposing how and why current higher education and political-economic systems are incapable of providing solutions to our global crises. Chapters provide an overview of how diverse approaches to action research can be used to confront ecological collapse, harmful capitalism, social inequalities and ill-equipped governance. The book uniquely covers a wide range of frameworks and methods necessary for the practice of action research, illuminated by many case studies from across the globe.

This book offers a timely appeal and concrete guidance to tackle our collective crises. Scholars and students from across the social sciences will learn how to do action research in collaboration with diverse participants. It is also a valuable resource for policymakers and government, third sector, and business practitioners committed to sustainability, social justice, and democracy.

Davydd J. Greenwood, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Arts and Sciences in Anthropology, Cornell University, USA, Johan E. Ravn, Chief Scientist, SINTEF Research Foundation and Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University, Norway and Koen P.R. Bartels, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration and Policy and Centre for Urban Wellbeing, University of Birmingham, UK