3. Emergent themes and practice guidelines

3.9. Radical non-intervention

Although participants had many positive discussions about the opportunities for participatory engagement with service users, where there are difficulties in communicating and accessing marginalised communities, there is a case for more analytical approaches that ensure that these relationships are more meaningful. For example, the conventional process to ‘invite’ participation may have little meaning for some communities and may be immediately perceved as ways of reinforcing systems of power and privilege. Where this occurs, alternative approaches should be explored, for example, building upon the concept of ‘radical non-intervention’ in criminology (Edwin Schur), that take the emphasis away from achieving unrealistic outcomes. In doing so this can enable new forms of self-representation of identities to emerge. Leaving it open whether a participatory research project or teaching event will happen may clear the space for ‘preliminary’ or alternative discussions to take place on the following terms:

  • Shifting the focus away from individual characteristics that are said to define people’s situations to social characteristics that lead to people being labelled as part of specific groups/communities.
  • Recognising and acknowledging power differentials and how they operate in detail from the outset.
  • Promoting ‘neutral/non-agenda’ relationship building for the purpose of authentic rather than purpose-specific mutual understanding. Recogising how we define vulnerable/ marginalized/seldom heard communities and how they define themselves and questioning and reassessing how we define them.
  • The goal of participation in these ‘non-interventive’ encounters should be to develop a shared understanding of the surrounding social conditions that impinge on people’s identities rather than the ‘inherent’ characteristics of individuals.

Theme 9) Case Study Example: Difficulties in accessing marginalised communities

The Czech case study described the search for a way to give a voice to Roma workers in the social field. The Roma minority in the Czech Republic is often compared unfavourably with frequent tokenistic arrangements. This milieu often leads to distrust and suspicion between Czech and Roma workers. It was argued that the use of participatory research needs to create opportunities for a partnership of trust and security. The beginning point for the project was the establishment of a partnership with one Roma and one Non-Roma colleague who had known each other for a long time, and who both viewed the Roma's voice as unique. A discussion took place about a common understanding of the research and its goals. Although both perspectives were different, there was a unified approach to deliver the research process involving Roma workers from the social field in a focus group. Each of them was known to at least one of the organisers and were able to express their questions, worries, and past poor experience of service. This had a participative effect which enabled past experience to be processed and dealt with. They were listed and accepted. They agreed to participate because they experienced partnership, and they resonated, intending to express their point of view.