The Call to Engaged Scholarship
There is a void in our academy and we would like you to help us fix it.
You know the void:
Sound familiar?
Well, it doesn’t need to be this way. There is a way we can proceed that could matter for a great number of people around the world while filling this sense of emptiness we hear among our friends in the academy.
The idea we offer here is consistent with others who have gone before, including those who practice “public sociology”, “applied sociology”, “applied social science” or “action research”, “public anthropology” and “sociologists without borders”.
We are curious to see that our field has not developed “applied political science” focused on improving the lives of ordinary people; there is no “political science without borders.” When political scientists do “applied” work, it is typically associated solely with “public policy” – an application that largely serves those who give/don’t give what to whom, when, and where (i.e., those in power). Now, this is often a reasonable thing to do; other times, it might be participating in the problem rather than the solution. Besides, a government-centric orientation of applied social science maintains a pretty restricted sense of what legitimate “public” and “applied” work can be.
What we wish to advance is different from the efforts noted above. We are not interested in advancing discourse or discussion, although we acknowledge that these are sorely needed. Rather, we are interested in improving the well-being of ordinary people through evidence-based research, while facilitating contacts between and among scholars and communities already engaged in this enterprise. We are also interested in supporting and assisting scholars who want to do applied work with practical, technical, and ethical issues that they encounter.
Specifically, given that government agencies already have plenty of assistance in achieving their aims, we are interested in assisting non-governmental organizations and ordinary citizens in their conflict-reducing/peace-making/human rights efforts.
To do this, we do not need to reinvent the wheel. Rather, we’d like to better integrate the wheels that are already rolling.
Toward this end, we have three modest and immediate goals:
With these three initiatives, we will start matching students with scholars, scholars with scholars, students with students, citizens with scholars, as well as citizens with students.
By linking engaged scholars worldwide, we hope to start to fill the void.
Sincerely
Erica Chenoweth - University of Denver
Christian Davenport - University of Michigan
There is a void in our academy and we would like you to help us fix it.
You know the void:
- it is the 2 years of writing/revising an article, 6 months of psychological damage created by slightly insensitive reviews/reviewers, and the 24-month delay in publication (all for .7 citations);
- it’s the realization that your book manuscript, which you agonizingly rehashed a dozen times to land at a top university press, will maybe get you tenure but will definitely be read by less than 10 people;
- it’s the 5 people who show up to hear your 6 person/2 discussant panel whose discussion never quite gets to the heart of your paper;
- it's the 4-6 years that you wait to hear back from that promising undergrad for whom you wrote that glowing letter of recommendation;
- it's that glossed-over look that same student, rest of class, and you shared when you administered the ritualistic essay exam which demonstrated baseline competence of the relevant topic but that ended right there;
- it's that moment when you, sitting in your office/cafe/study, realize that Pink Floyd’s song "Time" seems to capture your pre- and post-tenure life pretty well;
- it is the repeated declarations from senior scholars that we are to effectively observe the world but not try to change/fix/engage it – that we practice a neutral silence on a daily basis to avoid betraying our role/positions—that we sit apart from it, or rise above it all.
- it is the feeling that you want to do something, but you’re not quite sure what.
Sound familiar?
Well, it doesn’t need to be this way. There is a way we can proceed that could matter for a great number of people around the world while filling this sense of emptiness we hear among our friends in the academy.
The idea we offer here is consistent with others who have gone before, including those who practice “public sociology”, “applied sociology”, “applied social science” or “action research”, “public anthropology” and “sociologists without borders”.
We are curious to see that our field has not developed “applied political science” focused on improving the lives of ordinary people; there is no “political science without borders.” When political scientists do “applied” work, it is typically associated solely with “public policy” – an application that largely serves those who give/don’t give what to whom, when, and where (i.e., those in power). Now, this is often a reasonable thing to do; other times, it might be participating in the problem rather than the solution. Besides, a government-centric orientation of applied social science maintains a pretty restricted sense of what legitimate “public” and “applied” work can be.
What we wish to advance is different from the efforts noted above. We are not interested in advancing discourse or discussion, although we acknowledge that these are sorely needed. Rather, we are interested in improving the well-being of ordinary people through evidence-based research, while facilitating contacts between and among scholars and communities already engaged in this enterprise. We are also interested in supporting and assisting scholars who want to do applied work with practical, technical, and ethical issues that they encounter.
Specifically, given that government agencies already have plenty of assistance in achieving their aims, we are interested in assisting non-governmental organizations and ordinary citizens in their conflict-reducing/peace-making/human rights efforts.
To do this, we do not need to reinvent the wheel. Rather, we’d like to better integrate the wheels that are already rolling.
Toward this end, we have three modest and immediate goals:
- To provide a shared webspace that will serve as a contact point for groups, practitioners, and academics working to reduce violence. The space will include practical tips, ethical tips, and resources for those engaged in this work from the bottom up.
- To provide support. We will create a public list of projects underway, data compiled, analyses/reports, links, and opportunities for student as well as citizen engagement. All scholars who are actively engaged in research THAT NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE involving studying conflict, ending conflict, recovering from conflict, or developing peace should send us their name, project title, webpage (if any), what you have collected already, and what type of assistance you need (if any). Eventually, the site will have both a public and private space to share contacts and resources. To help us get started, you can send us a list of your existing research projects/programs that are already engaged in these types of activities (we won’t make them public without your express permission).
- To keep in touch. If you’d like to be a part of our initiative, send us your email address (for academics and students, non-university email addresses preferred so that we can maintain contact over time). We will occasionally provide updates of research/engagement opportunities as well as accomplishments, linking all engaged scholars and students across the globe.
With these three initiatives, we will start matching students with scholars, scholars with scholars, students with students, citizens with scholars, as well as citizens with students.
By linking engaged scholars worldwide, we hope to start to fill the void.
Sincerely
Erica Chenoweth - University of Denver
Christian Davenport - University of Michigan