From the Margins to the Mainstream? Celebrating and Challenging Participatory Action Research

The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA) at Durham University, in collaboration with the UK Participatory Research Network (UKPRN), organised its annual conference on Wednesday, 11th June 2025, in Durham, UK. Titled "From the Margins to the Mainstream? Celebrating and Challenging Participatory Action Research", the event served as a significant platform for reflection on the evolution, practices, and impact of Participatory Action Research (PAR) over the decades. It celebrated the global contributions of activists, practitioners, and academics since the 1970s, and revisited the trajectories that led to the establishment of CSJCA in 2009 and UKPRN in 2014—underscoring the collective efforts of individuals, networks, and institutions engaged in this field.

In addition to recognising the accomplishments of the PAR community, the conference critically engaged with contemporary challenges confronting the field, including academic hegemony, colonial legacies, extractive research practices, and the growing influence of institutional and funding bodies. The event also acknowledged the forthcoming retirement of Professor Sarah Banks, co-founder of both CSJCA and UKPRN, from Durham University in Autumn 2025.

Dr. Rajesh Tandon was a featured speaker on the Opening Panel, "Re-examining Participatory Action Research – Past, Present and Future." He was joined by a distinguished panel of scholars and practitioners for this dialogue, which offered critical insights into the past achievements, current tensions, and future possibilities for PAR.