Horizontal participatory action research: Refugee solidarity in the border zone

Abstract

This paper outlines a refugee solidarity action in the territory of the border zone on the West Balkan route to Central Europe. Methodologically it develops a horizontal approach to participatory action research. In an attempt to engage in research and action created in a non‐hierarchical collaboration with non‐academic co‐researchers, horizontal participatory action research renounces forcing the research process into a lockstep curriculum. It replaces power relations between researchers and participants with collective and relational knowledge creation and includes multiple modalities of reflection. Taking action, researchers are empowered to project the possibility of achieving social transformation through their practice of solidarity with migratory movements across borders. These movements contain moments of autonomy in regards to any attempt to control and regulate them. Solidarity in the terms of the horizontal participatory action research is thus conceived as action and reflection that is affirmative of the autonomy of migration.