Hello, is this thing on?

Welcome, fresh faced stranger, to a hitchhikers guide to gesellschaftsforchung. In this wiki-course we’re going to be exploring a range of liberatory social science topics but these are presented in a, hopefully, accessible way to enable you to conduct research for social change. The tools discussed here are designed to change the world for the better of the 99%, not the 1%.

Meta conversation about the guide itself can be found here. For now, let’s get cracking with some objectives.

Like all vague educationalists I am going to start with some learning objectives so that we are on the same page about what this wiki-course is doing. Of course, you are very welcome to dip in to what you need, ignore what you don’t and disagree with what you want to disagree with.

If you work through this procedurally, tailoring for your own project’s needs, I hope you will:

1. Develop an understanding of the theoretical foundations of liberatory social science, drawing from Marxian and other radical progressive perspectives.
2. Build your practical skills and develop techniques for conducting emancipatory social research that aims to critique oppressive structures and guide political action.
3. Enhance your reflexive and analytical approach to research ethics, methodology, and praxis that is grounded in a commitment to social justice and anti-oppression.
4. Engage with real-world examples and case studies of liberatory social science in action, learning from the successes, challenges, and limitations of past and present efforts.
5. Participate in a supportive and collaborative learning community that fosters dialogue, debate, and mutual aid among researchers, activists, and educators committed to social transformation.

… and some other lofty aspirations.

Because we’re all bound by some form of structural determinism (maybe) this wiki-course begins with a proposed structure. This is more to keep me working through systematically. As a neurodivergent, rabbit holes are fun, but may not be germane to the project structure. Wherever there’s a rabbit hole, I’ll shift gears and post it in a subpage or different namespace so things don’t get too confused ¹⁾.

• Honing your research area, and transformative agenda
• Creating a SOCK

• Key concepts and principles of Marxian and other radical social theories
• (Dialectical) materialism and the critique of capitalism
• Intersectionality and the interlocking nature of oppression
• The role of ideology and hegemony in maintaining social domination

• Participatory action research and community-based approaches
• Ethnography and the co-production of knowledge
• Arts-based and creative research methods for social change

• Decolonising research and challenging academic imperialism
• Navigating power dynamics and positionality in the research process
• Informed consent, confidentiality, and the protection of vulnerable populations
• Strategies for self-care, resilience, and avoiding burnout

• Writing for different audiences and purposes (academic, activist, popular)
• Using “artificial intelligence” and digital platforms for research dissemination and organising
• Collaborative research and the co-creation of knowledge with social movements
• Strategies for influencing policy and promoting social change through research