Critical reflections on participatory action research for rural development in Iran

Abstract

Critical reflections are presented from two pilot participatory action research (PAR) projects in rural Iran that aimed to improve communication between state development workers and male and female rural extension workers, and to increase participants' knowledge of participatory communication and their gender awareness. The research team adopted the perspective that people cannot be developed, they can only develop themselves. One of the main findings was that critical gender analysis is valuable in relation to all participants, including the research team. This is important in a predominantly patriarchal system. Conducting this ongoing PAR has been very challenging in a society with a centralized hegemonic structure, where participatory research is very new. In this context, achieving authentic participation and communication requires patience, commitment and sacrifice on the part of action researchers. Despite this, the project has changed the attitudes of rural extension workers and bureaucrats towards a more participatory decision-making process.