Introduction: reflecting upon the development of participatory action research and community development efforts

Abstract

The introduction traces the development of Participatory Action Research and Community Development in the Global North and South as a way of laying out a broader context for the chapters in this text. It argues that PAR and CD without each other risk reproducing existing social systems, while when used in combination offer the potential for true transformation for individuals, communities, social structures, and built environments. It also raises theoretical questions about issues of power, knowledge, narrative, and effective social change. Finally it provides a summary of the chapters in this edited collection as well as a logic for them.