Tracing Roots, Shaping Futures: The History of Social Movements and Perspectives (Feminist, Indigenous, Masculinity, Political, Human Rights and Social Policy), Experiential Community Development, Resilience and Social and Gender Justice

Dear Colleagues,

This call for submissions seeks to advance scholarly dialogue on the genealogical dimensions of experiential community development and their role in fostering social equality and justice. We invite submissions that examine the historical, cultural, and social foundations shaping social movements and experiential community development practices. We know that traditional values and cultural narratives play a significant role in driving social change, particularly when connected to concepts such as self-awareness and environmental consciousness. These dynamics intersect with contemporary practices and contexts, providing a basis for comparative analyses of norms and values. Contributions may address how these genealogical contexts influence processes of transformation, resilience, and innovation within diverse communities. The aim is to illuminate the interplay of history and practice in addressing contemporary challenges related to inequality and social justice.

This special issue centers around two areas:

1. Cultural Histories and Their Role in Transformational Change and Social Justice. The socio-cultural, socio-political, and socio-economic/environmental histories and heritages of communities inform and shape the processes, impacts, and implications of historical movements and experiential community development aimed at transformational change. Submissions could explore how intergenerational knowledge, values, and traditions influence social movements, coalitions, and community development. This includes critical examinations of cultural practices: acknowledging their positive contributions while addressing instances of harm or violence from a human rights perspective. Based on this, these analyses may seek to unpack the complex relationships between cultural practices and transformational impacts on social and gender justice.

Additionally, cultural narratives and collective memory can be seen as tools that foster participation, resilience, and solidarity within communities. By using comparative analyses, submissions might investigate how different societies’ histories inform their approaches to development, focusing on human rights movements, social and health policy reforms, and solidarity-building initiatives. Ultimately, these investigations aim to connect the resilience of communities to their histories, cultural narratives, and ongoing movements for justice and equity.

2. The Genealogical Foundations of Experiential Community Development. The genealogical history of experiential community development provides a rich foundation for understanding its transformative potential. Submissions might explore historical accounts of pivotal practices and social movements that have shaped this field, highlighting how past efforts have laid the groundwork for contemporary methodologies. This includes examining the evolution of approaches emphasizing resilience, collaboration, and innovation within communities. Case studies could analyze the legacy of coalition groups and movements, tracing their influence on current efforts to promote social equality and justice. By linking historical practices to present-day strategies, contributors can illuminate how experiential community development continues to drive transformative change in diverse contexts.

This call for submission emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, inviting submissions that draw from diverse fields such as sociology, anthropology, history, cultural studies, archaeology, communications, adult education, environmental science, and social work. Authors are encouraged to explore case studies rooted in both empirical research and lived experiences, as well as comparative and theoretical analyses, to address the genealogical foundations of experiential community development and socio-political movements. Contributions should examine how traditional knowledge, practices, and values foster resilience, innovation, and equity, while supporting the creation of welcoming, inclusive, and safer communities. This call highlights the importance of using both historical and contemporary perspectives to connect genealogical insights with current challenges and actionable solutions. Submissions representing diverse cultural, historical, and geographic contexts are highly encouraged, with particular emphasis on the intersections of economic, political, and environmental climates. By engaging with these multifaceted perspectives, the aim is for this Special Issue to advance a deeper understanding of transformational change and its implications for communities around the globe.

Our primary aim with this initiative is to deepen our understanding of and critically unpack how social and cultural histories have shaped the evolution of socio-political movements and experiential community development. We seek to trace critical milestones in the genealogical history of these practices, identifying their role in education and their importance and applications in the journey of social change. We further want to understand the transformative potential of these approaches in addressing systemic inequities and promoting social justice. Comparative analyses are encouraged, offering insights into how variations in genealogical contexts influence a wide range of interdisciplinary practices across different societies and countries. Further, we want to invite contributions of novel approaches to experiential community development, equipping practitioners and scholars with strategies to address contemporary social challenges.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors (rita.dhungel@ufv.ca). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure a proper fit within the scope of this Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

List of references included in the text:

Bourbeau, P. (2018). A genealogy of resilience. International Political Sociology, 12(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/oly003

Cretney, R. (2014). Resilience for whom? Emerging critical geographies of socio-ecological resilience. Geography Compass, 8(9), 627–640. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12154

Dhungel, Rita, et al. "Hearing our voices: Pathways from oppression to liberation through community-based participatory research." Space and Culture, India 6.5 (2019): 39–55.

Gallop, C. J., Guthrie, B., & Asante, N. (2023). The Impact of Experiential Learning on Professional Identity: Comparing Community Service-Learning to Traditional Practica Pedagogy. Journal of Experiential Education, 46(4), 474–490. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1177/10538259231154888

Lorenzetti, L., & Dhungel, R. (2020). Community-led transformative research tools and applications: From Canada to Nepal.

Raza, H. (2020). The Role of Reflexivity in Participatory Action Research to Empower Culturally Diverse Communities in Pakistan. Journal of Rural & Community Development, 15(1), 71–88.

Silva, A., & Lee, T. (2019). Communities, change, and social justice: Rethinking development paradigms. Community Development Journal, 54(4), 595–612. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsz029

Dr. Bala Nikku
Dr. Rita Dhungel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genealogy is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.