Participatory Research In The Post-Normal Age: Unsustainability And Uncertainties To Rethink Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy Of The Oppressed

143 Pages·2019·3.082 MB·English

by  Leandro Luiz Giatti

Leandro Luiz Giatti
Participatory
Research in the
Post-Normal Age
Unsustainability and Uncertainties to
Rethink Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the
Oppressed
Participatory Research in the Post-Normal Age
Leandro Luiz Giatti
Participatory Research in the
Post-Normal Age
Unsustainability and Uncertainties to Rethink
Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Leandro Luiz Giatti
School of Public Health
University of São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
ISBN 978-3-030-27923-3 ISBN 978-3-030-27924-0 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27924-0
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book
are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the
editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors
or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims
in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
When I learned how to prepare a pea soup, it
seemed to be comfortable and fast. Fried
bacon and onion, peas, potato, salt, and
water, cooked for twenty minutes in a
pressure cooker.
But when João cooked a pea soup for us, it
took about three hours to be ready. That´s
because, beyond making delicious and
healthy food, he knew more and created
much more. In rituals, we had great times of
interaction, good coexistence, fun, and
mutual learning among family and friends.
The soup and any other culinary treasures
were part of the outcomes within all of this.
This book is dedicated to João B Giatti, who
as an uncle, a brother, and an amazing
unforgettable friend, was wise.
Preface
There are three main reasons that I can point out for writing this book. The first is
academic, to contribute to the contemporary development of participatory research,
emphasizing new necessary understandings and fostering expansion of potentiali-
ties and applicabilities. The second is a political motivation, mainly considering that
the decision on this kind of research is entirely associated with collaborative learn-
ing and acting in the real world to reduce neglected and emergent vulnerabilities.
The last is a personal motivation to dialog with the very recent dynamics to rein-
force reflections and pathways to this moment of superficiality and growth of radi-
cal and intolerant positions.
Towards academic inducement, the inspiration from Paulo Freire´s Pedagogy of
the Oppressed is the starting point and the main thread for developing and rereading
such a vital text on contemporary contexts and uncovered complexities. That is why
the socio-ecological background suits the discussions, also because of the recogni-
tion of causal interdependencies that claim for hybrid knowledge and integrated
actions. Such a stance imposes itself in the cross-scale problematization and
searches for multistakeholder collaborative actions. Then, the dialogical process of
interaction and intersubjectivity seem to be a powerful asset for including vulnera-
ble and peripheric social groups into the sustainability and health debate—also, the
characteristics of the “alive” processes of researching-learning present possible
alternatives to encompass uncertainties.
In my conception, there is no possibility of searching for sustainability and better
conditions of life and health without having cognitive justice and ecology of knowl-
edge. Accordingly, multiple forms of engagement, reciprocal, and dialogical learn-
ing involving different social actors are at the core of compelling multilayered
systems of interactions necessary to cope with the global scenarios of unsustain-
ability. So, the role of reflexive practices in knowledge production can have new
meanings and feasibility in such contexts and demands.
The political motivation is entirely intrinsic in that way, since the decision on
proceeding with participatory research is political imperative, without forgetting the
potential of scientific production. Effectively, knowledge production in participa-
tory research presents itself as a democratic opening, because of the nature of
vii
viii Preface
learning collaboratively as acting on real societal concerns. The democratization of
knowledge is also a central issue in the post-normal science criticism. Therefore,
participatory research, in my view, complies with the paramount proposal of extend-
ing peer communities and making fairer relationships on the critical control of
application and decision-making on scientific statements and innovation.
The third reason for me to present this book is the personal motivation that aligns
with the staggering growth of societal fragmentations, intolerance, radicalisms, lack
of reflexive interactions, and rejection on universal values like human rights, social
justice, and ecological prudence. I cannot make a reliable panorama of such a spread
and multi-factorial phenomena, but I have had a perception that the connectivity of
the new virtual world has played a role in deepening changes in mindsets, as well as
in dangerous unfolding. Also, these shifts have shown me a trend of hazardous
alienation on issues that demand urgent actions like climate change and possible
related consequences.
Somewhat, the ascension of radicalism and intolerance has demonstrated incon-
sequential and partial judgments, anti-science postures (like mistrust of vaccina-
tion), and moreover, aversion to critical dialog involving social actors, mainly those
who have always been historically marginalized.
In Brazil, for example, people who affirm themselves as “liberal” are actively
discouraging and depreciating the Freirean educational legacy, which is a world-
renowned libertarian pedagogy. Indeed, it seems that they have the intent of being
liberal in the economy but conservative in traditions, which calls attention for a
worrying inclination on behalf of included social groups in keeping the traditional
social order, maintaining a vast population group in social exclusion. Maybe for
those with such aspirations, it seems to be convenient to restrain dialogical interac-
tion and empowerment for vulnerable people. Anyhow, what has been occurring in
the Brazilian context has similarities with international conjunctures. Thus,
the reluctance in the liberation of the oppressed can be verified broadly dissemi-
nated, also resembling other times, like decades ago on the Cold War tensions.
For such contexts and struggles, other revolutionary theories must be developed
to operate what would be the dialogical interactions to cope with the current global
crisis of unsustainability and interrelated crises, in scenarios permeated by uncer-
tainties and demanding urgent transitions. The challenging contemporary searches
in that way also have to consider the burden of the transformations of communica-
tive settings as the digital social networks, the rise of fear, misinformation, and
misuse of science. Moreover, another foremost issue is that there is a need to rein-
force reflection and broad engagement of stakeholders to critically control the
employment of uncertain scientific statements to make decisions permeated by high
stakes on unknown or neglected risks.
This book is conceived as a contribution to previous and still vigorous ideas
reinterpreted in the contexts of unsustainability, risks, health iniquities, complexi-
ties, and uncertainties. Then, participatory research is considered as a possibility to
foster interactions and necessary actions in the concrete reality for face-to-face
engagement of distinguished stakeholders.
São Paulo, Brazil Leandro Luiz Giatti
Acknowledgments
To professors that have collaborated with joint reflections: Pedro Roberto Jacobi,
Renata Ferraz de Toledo, Maria Cecilia Focesi Pelicioni, Aristides Almeida Rocha,
Gabriela Marques Di Giulio, Rodolfo Andrade de Gouveia Vilela, Pedro Fernandes
de Freitas, Nina Wallerstein, and Jutta Gutberlet. To researchers that have instigated
ideas: Carolina Monteiro de Carvalho, Ricardo Agum, Carlos Tato Cortizo, Tania
Mezzomo Keinert, Ana Maria Bedran Martins, Susanne Börner, Lira Luz Benites
Lázaro, Alexandre Magno Barbosa, Rafael Buralli, and Sávio Stoco. To various
students that arose interest and purposes, among them: Alberto Urbinatti, Simone
Omori Honda, Rosicler Rodriguez, Mateus Amaral, Elizabeth Salinas Rebolledo,
Juma Amanda Santos, Nadine Galbes, Rubens Landin, Amanda Silveira Carbone,
Ana Cláudia Sanches Baptista, Aline Inácio Alves, and Camila Paulino. To FAPESP
and São Paulo state society for funding my current research, mainly through the
thematic project MacroAmb (proc.n.2015/03804-9, and proc.n. 2019/12804-3). To
people from Iauaretê, Amazonas state, Brazil, and from Novo Recreio, Guarulhos,
Brazil. Last but not least, to those who represent pure love and inspiration: Luciane
Viero Mutti, Henrique Mutti Giatti, and Bibiana Mutti Giatti.
ix
Contents
1 Introduction: The Relevance of Participatory Approaches
Towards Contemporary Dilemmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Insights from the Contemporary Contradictions in Science–Society
Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.1 Damages, Interests, Science Misuse, and Oppression. . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 Browsing from Simple to Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.3 Inter-and Transdisciplinarity, and Ecology of Knowledge . . . . . . . . 27
2.4 Disasters of Cognitive Exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3 Participation and Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3.1 Beyond the Hegemonic Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3.2 Other Knowledges and Routes to Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3.3 The Water-Energy-Food Urban Nexus and an Approach
to Connect Local to Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
3.3.1 Contradictions on the Nexus in Urban Vulnerable
Settlements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
3.3.2 Methods for Apprehending the Nexus and Searching
for Synergies in Urban Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
3.3.3 People and the Nexus: Insights for Reconnecting . . . . . . . . 64
3.4 Reflexive and Liberation in the Freirean Philosophy
Applied to the Current Contexts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4 Adaptive Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4.1 Self-Organization in Participatory Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4.2 Cyclical and Adaptive Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
4.3 Integrating Uncertainties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
xi
xii Contents
4.4 Meta-Information in Participatory Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
4.5 The Process as a Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
5 The Need for a Taxonomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
5.1 A Diversity of Contexts, Approaches, and Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
5.2 Application of Participatory Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
5.3 Scales of Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
5.4 Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
5.5 Understanding the Plurality of Participatory Approaches . . . . . . . . . 120
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
6 Concluding on the Role of Participatory Approaches
in Post-Normal Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129