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>
>
> >First International Gathering on Social Movements and Research
> >-- First Jornades Internacionals Moviments Social i Recerca
>
>
> >A space for discusions and workshops on activist research, the first
> >International Gathering on Social Movements and Research, took place=20=
> in
> >Barcelona, from 22-25 January 2004. A short review on contents and
> >discussions of the conference.
>
>
> >The "first International Conference on Social Movements and Research"
> >(Jornades Internacionals Moviments Social i Recerca), was held at the=20=
> end
> >of January 2004 in Barcelona. It brought two hundred participants =
from
> >various places around the world together, who are doing activist=20
> research
> >or who are interested into it. It was a space for various discussions=20=
> on
> >the relation between research and social movements and it was ideal=20=
> for
> >exchanging ideas and to create research networks. A network of=20
> activists,
> >students and researchers from Barcelona organised the meeting.
>
>
> >During the four-day conference (22-25 Jan.), over twenty workshops=20
> were
> >held, as well as a concluding assembly on how to continue. The themes=20=
> of
> >the workshops were diverse, ranging from identity politics,
> >network-theories and issues on general activist research, how to=20
> change
> >economic life and how to overcome boundaries between 'the self' and=20=
> 'the
> >other' while doing research. Some groups organised specific
> >issue-workshops on, for example, Genetical Modification, Copyleft and
> >Desktop Activism.
>
>
> >Some of the workshops had many participants, while others were poorly
> >attended. This was largely dependent on the moment of the day the=20
> workshop
> >was held. At the same time, some workshops received better attention=20=
> in
> >the program with longer descriptions and more accurate titles. The=20
> larger
> >workshops or meetings were normally splitted up in smaller groups in=20=
> order
> >to discuss issues more in-depth. Thereafter the groups got together=20=
> into a
> >plenary session to report their main discussions or conclusions.
>
>
> >Academic and autonomous research
> >Many participants were students from different international=20
> universities
> >and the academic sphere, who are looking for ways to establish=20
> activist
> >research. Most attention during the conference was drawn to the study=20=
> of
> >social movements, however, taking movements foremost as an object of
> >study. These participants in general felt alienated from traditional
> >studies on movements. The conference was good in connecting these
> >activists and researchers who are looking for alternative, more=20
> engaged,
> >research into movements.
>
>
> >Nevertheless, needless to say, there are many research groups=20
> worldwide
> >that research, for example, trade, alternative agriculture, =
solidarity
> >economics and influence of corporations on EU politics. These topics=20=
> can
> >generally be seen as activist-targets, providing activists ammunition=20=
> for
> >action and arguments. These groups could have been more actively=20
> invited
> >to introduce the work they do and to develop workshops on how to do=20=
> this
> >type of research.
>
>
> >At the conference, only some of these groups, mostly local, were=20
> present,
> >such as the Barcelona copyleft group. The organisers acknowledged=20
> that not
> >enough international groups were invited, and most workshops had been
> >organised by groups from the local Barcelona context. However, the=20
> initial
> >idea of the conference was to organise a meeting for activists and
> >students from Catalonia. It was only later that the idea of inviting
> >international activists and researchers came forward.
>
>
> >Activist research
> >The central goal of the conference was to offer a physical place to
> >discuss activist research. How can we utilise tools of research for=20=
> the
> >aim of transforming society? After several years of reviving=20
> activism, a
> >more researched review on strategy and common goals is maybe needed.
> >However, it was generally felt among some participants and organisers=20=
> that
> >a general or central theme was lacking.
>
>
> >It is necessary to acknowledge, though, that the conference was put
> >forward rather as an open space than as a meeting where certain
> >conclusions had to be drafted. Within this mindset, attendants were
> >offered the option of proposing themes for meetings and workshops.
> >Articles were posted on relevant topics around these workshops on the
> >conference website. More than thirty articles had been posted on it=20=
> and
> >over twenty workshops took place.
>
>
> >However, some more attention to the meaning of activist research was
> >missed. In fact, there was little discussion during the conference on=20=
> what
> >is actually meant by this concept. Not only it was rarely discussed=20=
> during
> >the conference, but the organisation itself did not have a common =
idea
> >about it either.
>
>
> >According to Marc, one of the participants from the hosting=20
> organisation,
> >"this was not so good, as people were coming to us to ask what=20
> activism
> >research actually is, and we did not have clear answers. As a=20
> consequence,
> >we were maybe less focused. But various points of views on activist
> >research coexisted during the conference, which is good. For many,
> >opinions about activist research changed during the conference."
>
>
> >In broad terms, activist research can be seen as research conducted=20=
> for,
> >within or by social movements, by activists but also for example by
> >academics who see themselves as part of a wider environment and =
social
> >struggle. "You don't have to be an activist (however you define it),=20=
> to do
> >research that help forward social struggles for change", one of the
> >participants remarked.
>
>
> >Social transformation
> >A conclusion of one introductory workshop was that the goal of social
> >researchers is not supposed to be =93being an academic=94, but =
instead it=20
> aims
> >at social change. The goal of social research could be, in this=20
> respect,
> >to understand relations between movements, society and politics,=20
> taking
> >social change as the core element of these dimensions.
>
>
> >"To me, to engage oneself and one's research with social=20
> transformation,
> >is what constitutes social research activism=94, one of the =
participants
> >said. =93You can do this in several ways: by finding weak and strong=20=
> points
> >of movements, by learning from other movements from present and past
> >times, and, finally, by studying movements in connection to power
> >relations=94.
>
>
> >Some workshops were specifically oriented towards these ideas. For
> >example, one of them was on theories within movements, such as on the=20=
> need
> >of radical theory to inspire and study society and social movements.
> >Participants also pointed out, though, that ideas are nice, but it is
> >action and practice that is needed most.
>
>
> >Another workshop, on how to utilise 'new' network models to organise =
a
> >horizontal society from below, concluded on the other hand that we=20
> need
> >theory to critically reflect on how to implement change 'here and=20
> now'.
> >Although some ideas sound progressive and relatively new, they could=20=
> still
> >reinforce new hierarchies. For example, new networks might be based=20=
> on new
> >or old forms of domination outside the current capitalist system.
>
>
> >Future
> >While not many international research groups were present, there were
> >however many international participants, from European countries as=20=
> well
> >as from the American mainland. Some participants from the Spanish=20
> State
> >also participated in the international groups, which helped =
exchanging
> >ideas between different language groups.
>
>
> >A small cultural program was organised as well. At Saturday a band=20
> played.
> >The event had been organised by =91Ateneu Popular=92 where the =
meeting=20
> took
> >place (a community-cultural centre in the outskirts of Barcelona). =
Can
> >Masdeu, a squat in the mountains, hosted Friday dinner and provided
> >accommodation to non-local participants.
>
>
> >During the conference, different organisations displayed sets of=20
> books in
> >the main hall of Ateneu. The organisation had a table for =
participants
> >with information on the program and a table provided space for=20
> leaflets,
> >posters and other free material.
>
>
> >The concluding meeting at the conference was about 'how to continue'.=20=
> The
> >conference was a first general face-to-face meeting of activist
> >researchers and interested persons within this context. Generally, it=20=
> was
> >not seen as an end goal. Discussion will hopefully continue, articles=20=
> will
> >be written and ideas and new practices need to be exchanged yet.=20
> There was
> >a proposal to organise a second meeting in one or two years. No=20
> hosting
> >group proposed to organise one yet, but the idea needs to be spread=20=
> around
> >the world as well.
>
>
> >Web page: http://www.investigaccio.org/
> >Fotos: http://home.deds.nl/~vlo/postings/2004/investigaccio.html
>
>
> robin@???
>
>
> - - -
> Dept. of Sociology, St. Anne's building,
> NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare
> Tel. (+353-1) 708 3985
> http://www.iol.ie/~mazzoldi/toolsforchange/
--Apple-Mail-31--211902484
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<excerpt>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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International Gathering on Social Movements and =
Research</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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First Jornades Internacionals Moviments Social i =
Recerca</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>A
space for discusions and workshops on activist research, the =
first</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>International
Gathering on Social Movements and Research, took place =
in</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Barcelona,
from 22-25 January 2004. A short review on contents =
and</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>discussions
of the conference.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>The
"first International Conference on Social Movements and =
Research"</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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Internacionals Moviments Social i Recerca), was held at the =
end</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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January 2004 in Barcelona. It brought two hundred participants =
from</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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places around the world together, who are doing activist =
research</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>or
who are interested into it. It was a space for various discussions =
on</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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relation between research and social movements and it was ideal =
for</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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ideas and to create research networks. A network of =
activists,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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and researchers from Barcelona organised the =
meeting.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>During
the four-day conference (22-25 Jan.), over twenty workshops =
were</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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as well as a concluding assembly on how to continue. The themes =
of</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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workshops were diverse, ranging from identity =
politics,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>network-theories
and issues on general activist research, how to =
change</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>economic
life and how to overcome boundaries between 'the self' and =
'the</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>other'
while doing research. Some groups organised =
specific</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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on, for example, Genetical Modification, Copyleft =
and</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Desktop
Activism.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Some
of the workshops had many participants, while others were =
poorly</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>attended.
This was largely dependent on the moment of the day the =
workshop</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>was
held. At the same time, some workshops received better attention =
in</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>the
program with longer descriptions and more accurate titles. The =
larger</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>workshops
or meetings were normally splitted up in smaller groups in =
order</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>to
discuss issues more in-depth. Thereafter the groups got together into =
a</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>plenary
session to report their main discussions or =
conclusions.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Academic
and autonomous research</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Many
participants were students from different international =
universities</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>and
the academic sphere, who are looking for ways to establish =
activist</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>research.
Most attention during the conference was drawn to the study =
of</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>social
movements, however, taking movements foremost as an object =
of</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>study.
These participants in general felt alienated from =
traditional</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>studies
on movements. The conference was good in connecting =
these</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>activists
and researchers who are looking for alternative, more =
engaged,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
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into movements.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Nevertheless,
needless to say, there are many research groups =
worldwide</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>that
research, for example, trade, alternative agriculture, =
solidarity</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>economics
and influence of corporations on EU politics. These topics =
can</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>generally
be seen as activist-targets, providing activists ammunition =
for</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>action
and arguments. These groups could have been more actively =
invited</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>to
introduce the work they do and to develop workshops on how to do =
this</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>type
of research.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>At
the conference, only some of these groups, mostly local, were =
present,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>such
as the Barcelona copyleft group. The organisers acknowledged that =
not</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>enough
international groups were invited, and most workshops had =
been</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>organised
by groups from the local Barcelona context. However, the =
initial</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>idea
of the conference was to organise a meeting for activists =
and</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>students
from Catalonia. It was only later that the idea of =
inviting</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>international
activists and researchers came =
forward.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Activist
research</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>The
central goal of the conference was to offer a physical place =
to</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>discuss
activist research. How can we utilise tools of research for =
the</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>aim
of transforming society? After several years of reviving activism, =
a</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>more
researched review on strategy and common goals is maybe =
needed.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>However,
it was generally felt among some participants and organisers =
that</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>a
general or central theme was =
lacking.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>It
is necessary to acknowledge, though, that the conference was =
put</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>forward
rather as an open space than as a meeting where =
certain</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>conclusions
had to be drafted. Within this mindset, attendants =
were</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>offered
the option of proposing themes for meetings and =
workshops.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Articles
were posted on relevant topics around these workshops on =
the</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>conference
website. More than thirty articles had been posted on it =
and</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>over
twenty workshops took place.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>However,
some more attention to the meaning of activist research =
was</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>missed.
In fact, there was little discussion during the conference on =
what</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>is
actually meant by this concept. Not only it was rarely discussed =
during</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>the
conference, but the organisation itself did not have a common =
idea</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>about
it either.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>According
to Marc, one of the participants from the hosting =
organisation,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>"this
was not so good, as people were coming to us to ask what =
activism</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>research
actually is, and we did not have clear answers. As a =
consequence,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>we
were maybe less focused. But various points of views on =
activist</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>research
coexisted during the conference, which is good. For =
many,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>opinions
about activist research changed during the =
conference."</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>In
broad terms, activist research can be seen as research conducted =
for,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>within
or by social movements, by activists but also for example =
by</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>academics
who see themselves as part of a wider environment and =
social</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>struggle.
"You don't have to be an activist (however you define it), to =
do</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>research
that help forward social struggles for change", one of =
the</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>participants
remarked.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Social
transformation</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>A
conclusion of one introductory workshop was that the goal of =
social</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>researchers
is not supposed to be =93being an academic=94, but instead it =
aims</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>at
social change. The goal of social research could be, in this =
respect,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>to
understand relations between movements, society and politics, =
taking</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>social
change as the core element of these =
dimensions.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>"To
me, to engage oneself and one's research with social =
transformation,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>is
what constitutes social research activism=94, one of the =
participants</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>said.
=93You can do this in several ways: by finding weak and strong =
points</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>of
movements, by learning from other movements from present and =
past</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>times,
and, finally, by studying movements in connection to =
power</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>relations=94.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Some
workshops were specifically oriented towards these ideas. =
For</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>example,
one of them was on theories within movements, such as on the =
need</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>of
radical theory to inspire and study society and social =
movements.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Participants
also pointed out, though, that ideas are nice, but it =
is</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>action
and practice that is needed most.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Another
workshop, on how to utilise 'new' network models to organise =
a</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>horizontal
society from below, concluded on the other hand that we =
need</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>theory
to critically reflect on how to implement change 'here and =
now'.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Although
some ideas sound progressive and relatively new, they could =
still</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>reinforce
new hierarchies. For example, new networks might be based on =
new</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>or
old forms of domination outside the current capitalist =
system.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Future</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>While
not many international research groups were present, there =
were</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>however
many international participants, from European countries as =
well</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>as
from the American mainland. Some participants from the Spanish =
State</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>also
participated in the international groups, which helped =
exchanging</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>ideas
between different language groups.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>A
small cultural program was organised as well. At Saturday a band
played.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>The
event had been organised by =91Ateneu Popular=92 where the meeting =
took</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>place
(a community-cultural centre in the outskirts of Barcelona). =
Can</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Masdeu,
a squat in the mountains, hosted Friday dinner and =
provided</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>accommodation
to non-local participants.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>During
the conference, different organisations displayed sets of books =
in</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>the
main hall of Ateneu. The organisation had a table for =
participants</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>with
information on the program and a table provided space for =
leaflets,</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>posters
and other free material.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>The
concluding meeting at the conference was about 'how to continue'. =
The</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>conference
was a first general face-to-face meeting of =
activist</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>researchers
and interested persons within this context. Generally, it =
was</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>not
seen as an end goal. Discussion will hopefully continue, articles =
will</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>be
written and ideas and new practices need to be exchanged yet. There =
was</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>a
proposal to organise a second meeting in one or two years. No =
hosting</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>group
proposed to organise one yet, but the idea needs to be spread =
around</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>the
world as well.</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Web
page:
=
</x-tad-smaller></color><color><param>0000,8080,0000</param><x-tad-smaller=
>http://www.investigaccio.org/</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>7F7F,0000,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>>Fotos:
=
</x-tad-smaller></color><color><param>0000,8080,0000</param><x-tad-smaller=
>http://home.deds.nl/~vlo/postings/2004/investigaccio.html</x-tad-smaller>=
</color></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,8080,0000</param><x-tad=
-smaller>robin@???</x-tad-smaller></color></fontfamily>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><x-tad-smaller>- - =
-</x-tad-smaller></fontfamily>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><x-tad-smaller>Dept. of Sociology, St.
Anne's building,</x-tad-smaller></fontfamily>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><x-tad-smaller>NUI Maynooth, Co.
Kildare</x-tad-smaller></fontfamily>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><x-tad-smaller>Tel. (+353-1) 708 =
3985</x-tad-smaller></fontfamily>
=
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><x-tad-smaller>
http://www.iol.ie/~mazzoldi=
/toolsforchange/</x-tad-smaller></fontfamily>
</excerpt>=
--Apple-Mail-31--211902484--
