ABSTRACT

This article explains an action research response to the need for knowledge democracy in research projects between academics in global North and global South countries. It argues that if unspoken assumptions about knowledge creation are left unexamined, such collaborations can replicate forms of ‘epistemic injustice’. The paper is premised on the belief that such collaborations should be based upon practical acknowledgement of plurality in the domain of knowledge and upon the right and responsibility of people to contribute to research conceptualisations and questions as equals. The article focuses on the facilitation processes applied during an initial, five-day strategic planning meeting for athree-year Erasmus Mundus research project, in which academics from universities in Spain, Portugal, Peru and the UK participated, and the conceptualisations and strategic direction of the project were established. The authors draw upon their experiences as project co-designers and joint co-ordinators. We conclude that if international research projects are to promote knowledge democracy, processes need to be established in which relevant concepts and objectives can be articulated and the research questions established by all partners, in order to accommodate multiple perspectives. The insights offered also have relevance for collaborations between multiple stakeholders inside and outside of academia.

摘要

本文解释了行动研究对全球北方和全球南方国家学术界之间研究项目中知识民主需求的回应。它认为，如果对知识创造的不言而喻的假设未经检验，此类合作可能会复制“认知不公正”的形式。本文的前提是相信这种合作应该基于对知识领域多元化的实际承认，以及人们平等地为研究概念化和问题做出贡献的权利和责任。本文重点介绍了为期三年的 Erasmus Mundus 研究项目为期五天的初始战略规划会议期间应用的促进过程，来自西班牙、葡萄牙、秘鲁和英国大学的学者参加了会议，并确定了该项目的概念和战略方向。作者借鉴了他们作为项目联合设计师和联合协调员的经验。我们的结论是，如果国际研究项目要促进知识民主，就需要建立流程，阐明相关概念和目标，并由所有合作伙伴确定研究问题，以适应多种观点。所提供的见解也与学术界内外的多个利益相关者之间的合作有关。需要建立流程，在其中阐明相关概念和目标，并由所有合作伙伴确定研究问题，以适应多种观点。所提供的见解也与学术界内外的多个利益相关者之间的合作有关。需要建立流程，在其中阐明相关概念和目标，并由所有合作伙伴确定研究问题，以适应多种观点。所提供的见解也与学术界内外的多个利益相关者之间的合作有关。