Liberating Method reflects the conviction that feminist insights can and should contribute to a sounder, more rigorous social science. In this book, one of the leading practitioners and teachers of feminist methodology examines profound questions about traditional and customary practices of social research. Marjorie DeVault argues that established methods too often ignore social oppression as she charts her quest for approaches that will more adequately represent marginalized groups.

Smart leaders know that they would greatly increase productivity and innovation if only they could get everyone fully engaged. So do professors, facilitators and all changemakers. The challenge is how. Liberating Structures are novel, practical and no-nonsense methods to help you accomplish this goal with groups of any size. Prepare to be surprised by how simple and easy they are for anyone to use. This book shows you how with detailed descriptions for putting them into practice plus tips on how to get started and traps to avoid. It takes the design and facilitation methods experts use and puts them within reach of anyone in any organization or initiative, from the frontline to the C-suite. Part One: The Hidden Structure of Engagement will ground you with the conceptual framework and vocabulary of Liberating Structures. It contrasts Liberating Structures with conventional methods and shows the benefits of using them to transform the way people collaborate, learn, and discover solutions together. Part Two: Getting Started and Beyond offers guidelines for experimenting in a wide range of applications from small group interactions to system-wide initiatives: meetings, projects, problem solving, change initiatives, product launches, strategy development, etc. Part Three: Stories from the Field illustrates the endless possibilities Liberating Structures offer with stories from users around the world, in all types of organizations -- from healthcare to academic to military to global business enterprises, from judicial and legislative environments to R&D. Part Four: The Field Guide for Including, Engaging, and Unleashing Everyone describes how to use each of the 33 Liberating Structures with step-by-step explanations of what to do and what to expect. Discover today what Liberating Structures can do for you, without expensive investments, complicated training, or difficult restructuring. Liberate everyone's contributions -- all it takes is the determination to experiment.

In a landmark theoretical work which will radically influence progressive thinking, seven respected activist/scholars from diverse backgrounds and movements have collaborated to create a truly Liberating Theory. The authors combine and transcend various theories of history (marxism, anarchism, feminism, and nationalism) to develop an alternative conceptual framework, complementary holism. Applying this framework to questions of economics, politics, gender, race, and culture highlights the usefulness of complementary holism for understanding society and strategizing its transformation. Seeking unity that respects diversity, "Liberating Theory" provides concepts that promote "autonomy within solidarity". It rejects the idea that any one oppression is primary while all others are secondary and it provides a vehicle for activists to share intellectual tools, visionary aims, and practical strategies so as to support and work with one another without compromising the integrity of their own desires. This most unusual and groundbreaking book is the first to put forward a coherent, radical politics that gives activists and theorists a framework for understanding the complex, integrated character of modern oppressions. It is essential reading for all those who concern themselves with social change and with formulating a vision of a liberated future.

Contemporary Systems Thinking is a series of texts, each of which deals comparatively and/or critically with different aspects of holistic thinking at the frontiers of the discipline. Traditionally, writings by systems thinkers have been concerned with single theme propositions such as General Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Operations Research, System Dynamics, Soft Systems Methodology and many others. Recently there have been attempts to fulfil a different yet equally important role by comparative analyses of viewpoints and approaches, each addressing disparate areas of study such as: modeling and simulation, measurement, management, 'problem solving' methods, international relations, social theory and last, but not exhaustively or least, philosophy. In a recent book these were drawn together within a multiform framework as part of an eclectic discussion -a nearly impossible task as I discovered (see Dealing With Complexity -An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science, R. L. Flood and E. R. Carson, Plenum, New York, 1988). Nevertheless, bringing many sources together led to several achievements, among which was showing a great diversity of approaches, ideas and application areas that systems thinking contributes to (although often with difficulties remaining unresolved). More important, however, while working on that manuscript I became aware of the need for and potential value in a series of books, each focusing in detail on the study areas mentioned above.

Current debates on decolonisation call for academic disciplines, including the practitioners of Black theology, to reflect on its content and curriculum. This edited volume actively engages in these ongoing dialogues, specifically addressing the pertinence of a Black theology of liberation within the postapartheid landscape. It not only delves into the historical underpinnings of this theological framework but also endeavours to establish a conceptual framework for assessing its significance within the current discourse on decolonising theological disciplines. In addition to shedding light on the historical importance of Black theology, the late Vuyani Vellem poses a crucial question: “What lessons has Black theology yet to learn?” This inquiry by emerging South African scholars serves as a guide for navigating the path forward in developing this theological perspective. Beyond emphasising the historical context, the volume aims to contribute to broader discussions about social cohesion in South Africa, where conflicting socio-political narratives persist. This work adds to the theoretical development by grappling with the history of Black theological thought and influences contemporary engagements with theology. Its impact spans various levels, encompassing the reconsideration of Black theology’s influence on race, gender, politics, community development, and more. Ultimately, this volume serves as a catalyst for understanding and reshaping the discourse on Black theology, offering valuable insights for navigating the complexities of theological thought in today’s diverse and evolving landscape.

This book analyzes the theological method of liberation theologian Enrique Dussel and, by comparing it with the meta-method of Bernard Lonergan, establishes a paradigm for international theological dialogue. The author suggests that Dussel’s non-reductionist understanding of liberation and Lonergan’s understanding of the subject-as-subject provide a methodological foundation for critical dialogue between Latin American and North American theologians. The methodological maturation of liberation theology rehearsed in this study suggests how the insights of Latin American theology demand the development of an indigenous form of North American theology of liberation.

Liberation Psychology: Theory, Method, Practice, and Social Justice guides readers through the history, theory, methods, and clinical practice of liberation psychology and its relation to social justice activism and movements.