Participatory Research, Capabilities and Epistemic Justice

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Epistemic Justice, Participatory Research and Valuable Capabilities

   • Melanie Walker, Alejandra Boni

   Pages 1-25

3. Expanding Epistemic Capability in Participatory Decision-Making Processes: The Universidad de Ibagué Capabilities List

   • Diana Velasco, Alejandra Boni

   Pages 27-57

4. Expanding Capabilities for Epistemic Justice Through Social Innovation: The Case of Business and Management Courses in UNIMINUTO, Colombia

   • Sergio Belda-Miquel, Leonor Avella-Bernal

   Pages 59-87

5. A Freirean Approach to Epistemic Justice: Contributions of Action Learning to Capabilities for Epistemic Liberation

   • Monique Leivas Vargas, Álvaro Fernández-Baldor, Marta Maicas-Pérez, Carola Calabuig-Tormo

   Pages 89-114

6. Epistemic Capabilities in the Context of Oppression: Reflections from an Action Learning Programme in Salvador, Brazil

   • Lori Keleher, Alexandre Apsan Frediani

   Pages 115-138

7. Democratic Capabilities Research: Exploring Contextual Challenges and Contributions of Participatory Research Towards Epistemic Justice

   • Carmen Martinez-Vargas

   Pages 139-164

8. Participatory Video as a Tool for Cultivating Political and Feminist Capabilities of Women in Turkey

   • F. Melis Cin, Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm

   Pages 165-188

9. A Participatory Photovoice Project: Towards Capability Expansion of ‘Invisible’ Students in South Africa

   • Melanie Walker, Mikateko Mathebula

   Pages 189-213

10. Graffiti as a Participatory Method Fostering Epistemic Justice and Collective Capabilities Among Rural Youth: A Case Study in Zimbabwe

    • Tendayi Marovah, Faith Mkwananzi

    Pages 215-241

11. Potential of Participatory Action Research Processes to Overcome Epistemic Injustice in Non-ideal University Settings

    • Alejandra Boni, Melanie Walker

    Pages 243-259

12. Back Matter

    Pages 261-271

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This book explores the potential of participatory research and the capability approach to transform understandings of higher education. The editors and contributors illuminate the importance of epistemic in/justice as a foundation to a reflexive, inclusive and decolonial approach to knowledge, as well as its importance to democratic life and participation in higher education. Drawing together eight global case studies, the authors argue for an ecology of knowledge that expands epistemic capabilities in higher education through teaching, research and policy making. Moreover, the chapters illustrate how these epistemic capabilities can be marginalised by both institutions and structural and historical factors; as well as the potential for possibilities when spaces are opened for genuine participation and designed for a plurality of voices. This book will appeal to scholars of social justice and participatory research as well as ongoing debates around decolonising the academy.

• Amartya Sen
• Martha Nussbaum
• Capability Approach
• Narrative capability
• Participatory research
• Epistemic Jusice and education
• Transforming higher education
• education research methods
• capability expansion

“This wide-ranging edited volume by Melanie Walker and Alejandra Boni beautifully captures the potential for university-based participatory action research (PAR) to influence epistemic spaces in the wider community. Moreover, and perhaps most interestingly, it does so by invoking the insights of the capability approach. … The editors deserve to be congratulated for this collection of essays that lend both depth and breadth to the book. … The 10 chapters in this excellent volume help us understand why.” (Stacy J. Kosko, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Vol. 23 (1), 2022)

• University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

  Melanie Walker

• INGENIO (CSIC-Universitat Politècnica de València), Valencia, Spain

  Alejandra Boni

Melanie Walker is Distinguished Professor in the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State, South Africa, and holds the South African Research Chair in Higher Education and Human Development. Her research interests focus on social justice and human development in higher education in the global South.



Alejandra Boni is Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain and Deputy Director of Ingenio (CSIC-UPV). Her research interest focus on human development, higher education, global citizenship and transformative innovation.

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