This article examines a participatory action research experience conducted between 2018 and 2021 within the development of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative in Trentino, northern Italy. Situated at the intersection of agroecology, action research and scholar activism, the study explores both the transformative potential and the unintended risks of combining research, facilitation and activism within a community-led food project. Drawing on participant observation, interviews, focus groups, meeting minutes and autoethnographic reflection, the article reconstructs the evolution of the initiative from its emergence to its eventual dissolution. The findings show that participatory action research supported collective learning, knowledge co-production and participants’ engagement with agroecological values and practices. At the same time, the study reveals an underexplored risk: the progressive concentration of expectations, responsibilities and symbolic authority around the researcher, generating forms of dependency that may undermine empowerment. The article argues that this tension can be addressed through shared reflexivity, understood as a collective practice through which participants and researchers critically examine roles, expectations, emotions and power relations. Rather than a simple crisis-management strategy, shared reflexivity emerges as a core epistemological contribution of scholar activism, enabling the co-production of knowledge, responsibility and transformative action.
Scholarly discussions about online research techniques have yet to fully consider their value in light of the growing right-wing authoritarianism and attacks on gender equity. This is particularly true for Participatory Action Research methods that rely on embodied action, collective emotional energy, and interaction. This paper examines the use of Participatory Theatre, a Participatory Action Research methodology that employs applied theatre techniques, to critically research the problem of campus sexual violence while building allyship among anti-violence activists to evoke progressive social transformation. Through the lens of a research project on campus sexual violence, and the application of Randall Collins’s theory of interaction rituals, we reflect on the challenges and opportunities of conducting Participatory Theatre studies online. We conclude that interaction ritual can be coupled with the emancipatory aims of Participatory Theatre to produce knowledge of mutual benefit to both researchers and communities by reaffirming our shared power, strengthen, and capacity for collective resistance in this critical time of political and economic turmoil.
Inspired by intergroup dialogue activities and grounded in the principles of Action Research and Participatory Action Research, this paper presents three qualitative interview methods: the fishbowl interview, a ranking and response activity, and a write-and-reflect technique. Developed across two studies, these methods aim to create safe, non-judgmental environments for dialogue, encouraging critical self-reflection, participant leadership, and shared meaning-making. Drawing on reflections from both researchers and participants, this paper outlines the design, benefits, challenges, and limitations of these methods, concluding with recommendations for their use.
This study investigates the potential of co-design in addressing urban conflicts through the development of six pilot child-friendly community parks (RPTRAs) in Jakarta. Utilizing a participatory design framework, the research identifies and analyzes conflicts that arose across five co-design phases: social mapping, initial design, final design, community-supported construction, and participatory activity planning. Drawing on qualitative data from field observations and focus group discussions (FGDs), the study categorizes conflicts into five key themes: representation and inclusion, commitment issues, conflicting needs and priorities, resistance and contestation, and power inequalities. Findings reveal that while co-design processes often trigger conflicts, they also provide mechanisms to address them, fostering negotiation, compromise, and innovation. Aligning these findings with theoretical insights, the study demonstrates that conflicts are not merely obstacles but essential drivers for building inclusive and equitable urban spaces. This research contributes to the understanding of participatory urban planning by highlighting how co-design can transform conflicts into opportunities for empowerment, shared learning, and sustainable outcomes. It underscores the importance of iterative, context-sensitive approaches that balance local needs with broader policy objectives, offering a model for inclusive urban governance in diverse and dynamic contexts.
