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The Practice of Systemic Action Research

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From modern slavery to environmental breakdown, the most urgent challenges of our time demand approaches that can work with complexity, rapidly adapt and catalyse lasting change through the agency ...
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  • 01 October 2026
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From modern slavery to environmental breakdown, the most urgent challenges of our time demand approaches that can work with complexity, rapidly adapt and catalyse lasting change through the agency of ordinary people.

This book introduces Systemic Action Research (SAR) – a participatory methodology designed to transform “hard to shift” patterns and dynamics in systems. Having implemented more than 30 large-scale SAR programmes worldwide, the authors combine systems thinking, complexity theory and participatory practice to show how to design, facilitate and evaluate change processes involving large numbers of system actors in interlinked action research initiatives.

Featuring rich case studies, this is an invaluable guide for those committed to enabling large-scale social transformation and tackling complex crises.

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Price: $44.95
Pages: 224
Publisher: Bristol University Press
Imprint: Policy Press
Publication Date: 01 October 2026
ISBN: 9781447373193
Format: Paperback
BISACs: SOCIAL SCIENCE / Methodology, Social research and statistics, SOCIAL SCIENCE / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Developing & Emerging Countries, Research methods / methodology, Development studies
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Danny Burns was until 2024 Professor at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. He is now an activist writer and facilitator focusing on progressive social change.

Marina Apgar is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.

Introduction

Part 1: The evolution of Systemic Action Research

Chapter 1: Participatory Action Research

Chapter 2: Systemic and Complexity Based Change

Chapter 3: Systemic Action Research

Part 2: Designing Systemic Action Research

Chapter 4: The Ground-Level Systemic Action Research Design

Chapter 5. The Meta-Level Systemic Action Research Design

Part 3: Detailed Cases of Systemic Action Research

Chapter 6: The CLARISSA Programme on Worst Forms of Child Labour in Bangladesh and Nepal (2018-24)

Chapter 7: The “Vestibule de la Paix” Peace Building Programme in Mali (2019-24)

Chapter 8: Alternative Approaches to SAR

Part 4: Practical Considerations for Quality Systemic Action Research

Chapter 9: Facilitation of Systemic Action Research

Chapter 10: Documentation and Evaluation of Systemic Action Research

Chapter 11: Ethics, Power and Risk in Systemic Action Research