Centre for Narrative Research

Narrative and Social Change

This project aims to develop innovative and effective theories, methods and practices in the growing field of narrative and social change research, in the UK and other countries, starting with 4 African countries. Drawing on existing research links, it will bring together eminent and early career researchers across the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, educational, literature, and African studies, to build a Narrative and Social Change Network.

INTRODUCTION

Narrative research in the social sciences searches out, analyses and works with stories that relate significantly to people’s lives. Many argue that this increasingly popular qualitative approach can offer understandings of social change. Narratives themselves can be important components of social change, and narrative research may contribute to such change. Researchers have worked successfully with narrative to address medical, social and educational problems, to build communities and resolve crises, to aid reconciliation and to improve understanding in situations of conflict and change

Western social researchers produce many general considerations of narrative. There is a great deal of insightful African narrative research on social change, usually addressing more specific issues such as conflict and post-conflict resolution, HIV, sexualities, gender violence, and the building of neighbourhoods, citizenship, and cultures. Storytelling is, too, argued to have a strong value within many African societies, as a mode of transmitting and transforming social traditions. By contrast, western understandings of narrative research’s role in social change are rare, and tend to be overgeneral. Narrative and social change is, then, a topic on which African and UK scholars can very fruitfully collaborate. 

Three major areas of debate which UK and African academics could productively address, are:

The social contexts of narrative research. What social and political contexts does such research require? Are there gender differences in narrative’s significance? Can narrative work with groups of participants, affect community actions? How does research on discourse, addressing issues of power and social change more directly, relate to narrative work?

Different forms of narrative research. How generally relevant is the notion of ‘life story’? What is the impact of popular-cultural narratives? Is research focused on participant involvement particularly useful in helping participants understand and change their lives? What can we learn from African literary theory; and from written narratives’ relation to social change, which is also a strong one?

The impact of narrative research. What issues does narrative research address most productively? How far can narratives affect difficult situations such as those after national crises. In what situations do narrative interventions have no effect; may they even be counterproductive?

The project’s objectives are:

• To advance theoretical, methodological and practical debates about narrative and social change, by sharing expertise between researchers
• To establish a Narrative and Social Change Network, founded in the visits and web resources, providing intra-African and Africa –UK research colleagiality, support and development, especially for early career researchers
• Where possible, to publish outputs from these exchanges
• To encourage related intra-African and UK-African collaborative projects, such as research, papers, grant applications and conference presentations.

2007 EVENTS

• Ghana: first annual CNR-visit: December 2007
• Abuja: regular annual UEL/CNR visit
• Cape Town: regular CNR visit
• UKZN: student visit to CNR
• UK Narrative discourse social representation and social change workshop, sponsored by BPS Social Psychology section

2009 EVENTS

• UK Narrative and Social Justice Workshop, sponsored by BPS Social Psychology Section (March 26th 2009)

NETWORK MEMBERS

Britain

• Professor Corinne Squire, School of Social Science, Media and Cultural Studies, UEL, UK
• Dr Giorgia Dona, School of Social Science, Media and Cultural Studies, UEL, UK
• Dr Abiola Ogunsola, School of Education, UEL, UK
• Professor Cathy Campbell, Social Psychology Institute, LSE, UK
• Dr Caroline Howarth, Social Psychology Institute, LSE, UK
• Dr Derek Hook, Social Psychology Institute, LSE, UK

South Africa

• Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Psychology Department, UCT, South Africa
• Professor Don Foster, Psychology Department, UCT, South Africa
• Professor Yvonne Sliep Psychology Department, UKZN, South Africa
• Dr Jude Clark, Psychology Department, UKZN, South Africa

Nigeria

• Dr. Ademola Ajuwon, Department of Health Promotion and Education, Ibadan University, Nigeria
• Dr Vicky Mole, Lecturer in English, University of Abuja, Nigeria

Ghana

• Regina Konadu, Maximilian International College, Ghana

Rwanda

• Charles Kalinganire, MA, Lecturer in Sociology, N U Rwanda
• Felix Muramutsa, BSc. Smart consultancy and lecturer, N U Rwanda, Rwanda

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© 2008