Orlando Fals Borda: Investigación acción participativa

Summary

Orlando Fals Borda, a pioneer of Participatory Action-Research (PAR), is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in sociology and social sciences in Latin America. His research, deeply rooted in social justice, was shaped by his experiences in rural Colombia and his commitment to transforming communities. Fals Borda developed PAR as a method that combines theory with praxis, emphasizing collaboration and active participation from the communities involved. His work aimed to empower individuals, challenge traditional educational methods, and bring about social change. His philosophy of 'sentipensante' (feel-thinker) combined empathy with intellectual engagement, marking a profound shift in the research landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 Orlando Fals Borda was a pioneering figure in Latin American sociology, known for founding Participatory Action-Research (PAR) and for his commitment to social justice.
• 😀 Fals Borda emphasized the importance of combining theory and action (praxis) in addressing real-world social issues, particularly in rural Colombia.
• 😀 His work in rural Colombia, particularly in Boyacá, focused on issues of land possession, rural poverty, and the value systems of traditional, change-resistant communities.
• 😀 Participatory Action-Research (PAR) promotes collaboration with local communities and considers their knowledge and experiences as central to the research process.
• 😀 Fals Borda’s approach to education and research was influenced by the concept of ‘People's Education,’ which opposes traditional, top-down educational models and instead emphasizes community-based, transformative learning.
• 😀 The concept of 'sentipensante' or 'feel-thinker'—which combines emotional and intellectual insight—was central to Fals Borda’s approach to both education and research.
• 😀 Fals Borda believed that research outcomes should be shared with the people who produced them, ensuring that the knowledge created was used to promote social change.
• 😀 In the 1970s, Fals Borda helped establish the first international symposium on PAR, which became an important platform for discussing and expanding his methodologies worldwide.
• 😀 Fals Borda’s work inspired international followers and led to a wave of collaborative research that bridges academic disciplines with action for social change.
• 😀 PAR and its emphasis on community participation and action has become a critical tool for social movements, helping to promote social change through knowledge creation and shared efforts.
• 😀 Fals Borda’s legacy continues to inspire scholars and activists around the world to use research as a tool for transformation, especially in the context of Latin American and global social justice movements.

Q & A

Who was Orlando Fals Borda, and what is his significance in Latin American sociology?

Orlando Fals Borda was a pioneering sociologist from Colombia, recognized as the founder of modern sociology in the country. He made significant contributions to Latin American social sciences, particularly through his work on Participatory Action-Research (PAR), which aimed to connect research with social action and transformation. His ideas challenged traditional sociology and emphasized the importance of community involvement in research.

What is Participatory Action-Research (PAR), and how does it differ from traditional research methods?

Participatory Action-Research (PAR) is a research methodology that emphasizes collaboration between researchers and communities to co-create knowledge and promote social change. Unlike traditional research, which often involves a detached, top-down approach, PAR focuses on active participation from the subjects of the research, allowing them to be both participants and co-creators of the knowledge generated.

What role did Orlando Fals Borda play in the development of sociology in Colombia?

Orlando Fals Borda played a crucial role in the establishment of the Sociology Department at the National University of Colombia. His efforts were instrumental in creating a new academic community focused on research grounded in social issues. He also contributed to the early works in rural sociology, which addressed problems such as land ownership and agrarian reform.

What is the concept of 'sentipensante' and how does it relate to the methodology of PAR?

The concept of 'sentipensante,' or 'feel-thinker,' emerged from Fals Borda's work with peasants in Colombia. It refers to the combination of heart and head in thinking, where both emotions and intellect are integrated in the process of knowledge creation. This concept is central to PAR, which encourages empathy and the involvement of participants in both intellectual and emotional ways.

How did Fals Borda contribute to the development of People's Education in Latin America?

Orlando Fals Borda was deeply involved in the development of People's Education in Latin America, an innovative educational approach that sought to reverse the traditional 'banking education' model. This model emphasized top-down knowledge transmission and instead promoted education created with and for the people, particularly the marginalized sectors of society, fostering critical thinking and social action.

What was the significance of the 1977 international symposium in Cartagena?

The 1977 international symposium in Cartagena was a pivotal moment in the development of Participatory Action-Research (PAR). It marked the beginning of methodological and theoretical discussions about PAR and brought together scholars from various countries to explore the practical applications and theoretical foundations of this research approach.

How does PAR aim to promote social change through research?

PAR promotes social change by involving communities in the research process and ensuring that the findings are used to address the communities' needs. Researchers act as mediators who help communities express their experiences, and the knowledge generated is intended to drive action, contribute to social justice, and empower participants to make informed decisions about their lives.

What are the key differences between classical social sciences and the approach proposed by Fals Borda?

The key difference between classical social sciences and Fals Borda's approach lies in the epistemological shift he proposed. While traditional social sciences often maintained a detached, objective perspective, Fals Borda's PAR emphasized a subjective, participatory relationship between the researcher and the community, fostering a more engaged, transformative approach to understanding social issues.

How did Fals Borda's work influence social movements in Latin America?

Fals Borda's work significantly influenced social movements in Latin America by providing them with a framework for understanding and addressing their struggles. His focus on participatory research and his belief in the power of collective action resonated with social movements that sought to empower marginalized communities and challenge established power structures.

What does Fals Borda mean by 'research is not just academic, but a process of social construction'?

By saying that 'research is not just academic, but a process of social construction,' Fals Borda emphasized that research should be aimed at real-world change, not just the production of theoretical knowledge. He believed that research should be a collaborative, ongoing process that involves communities in shaping the questions, methods, and outcomes, with the goal of promoting social transformation.