Towards social inclusion from the IAP. An experience in Andalusia

Abstract

Participatory research is an adequate methodology to promote changes at a local level that can affect a more extensive and innovative form of social organization. Beyond the theoretical bases, Participatory Action Research represents an eminently practical methodology, since the application of different techniques and tools in the daily life is not only useful, but also is necessary for the incidence of citizenship in the construction of their space and of their living conditions. In this article, we present the change of approach that Participatory Research assumes compared to other social research methodologies, highlighting the way of approaching knowledge of social reality (research), its transforming character (action) and the subject-subject relationship (participation ) that it raises, understanding that there is not a single methodological model, but a set of techniques at the service of citizens to achieve a greater incidence in public decisions, but that share some basic principles on which Participatory Research is based. On the other hand, we stick to a specific project that takes place in the municipality of San Juan de Aznalfarache, located at the entrance to Seville from the Huelva road. Due to its geographical location, this town has been a magnet for many people from very different countries, among which there are more than 79 nationalities, highlighting the diverse and intercultural nature of the municipality. In this sense, it is essential to apply integration policies that are built in a participatory manner and achieve the highest degree of consensus possible to define the conditions of the place where we want. Starting from the epistemological and methodological bases of this proposal, an experience of citizen participation is presented through a concrete practice that is being developed in San Juan de Aznalfarache (Seville) for the elaboration of the Social Inclusion Plan of the municipality. We emphasize in this sense the eminently practical nature of this methodology.