Engaged scholarship: paradigmatic and pragmatic drivers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Why do scholars engage with the public? Following a brief overview of engaged scholarship, this paper addresses this question, delineating two interconnected categories of drivers: paradigmatic and pragmatic. Paradigmatic drivers are rooted in deeply held worldviews that shape scholars’ interactions with the public, encompassing theoretical commitments, epistemological orientations, and ethical considerations. On the other hand, pragmatic drivers of engaged scholarship refer to a commitment to addressing urgent societal issues and effecting tangible changes. Guided by practical questions, engaged scholars are responsive to immediate concerns of injustice and unfreedom in society. Pragmatic drivers of engaged scholarship include moments of crisis and evidence of urgency, role expectations, and personal positionality. Under the two categories of drivers, the paper puts forward six propositions that encapsulate its central claims. The two categories of drivers do not exist in isolation; rather, they often interact and influence each other. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of engaged scholarship for policy and practice, emphasising the importance of collaborative relationships with communities of interest.