In many regions of the world, societies are in a phase of rapid
transition due to political and socio-economic changes, combined
with changes in the natural environment, climate change and
biodiversity loss. In the case study presented here, we address the
Armenian population of the remote rural area of the Javakheti
Highlands in the South Caucasus of Georgia, situated next to the
Turkish frontier. Actors in this region have to deal with
cumulative uncertainties related to the complex processes of
post-Soviet transition and its social, cultural and economic
consequences. Any transformative intention that effects local
population has to be embedded into everyday life context. Entering
in such an unclear situation as western researchers with the
mission to generate possible answers to a vital economic and
socio-cultural question, asks for comprehensive approaches
following primarily the needs of the local people, integrating
different perspectives of scientists, stakeholders and concerned
population.
Mutual understanding, the identification with the defined
mission and cooperative knowledge production are preconditions for
robust answers to these challenges. Consequently, a stakeholder
analysis is performed. Using the methodological approach of
community-based participatory research, we answered the need, that
the defined mission of this project is only achievable on the base
of building trust and shared knowledge between the involved actors.
This study describes the process of approximation to the research
field as a first step to the development of sustainable
solutions.
Keywords: activating methods; co-operative
knowledge production; community development; community economy;
post-soviet transition; transformative research.
About the Authors:
Susanne Elsen, Social Scientist Free University of
Bozen-Bolzano
Stefan Zerbe, Landscape Ecologist Free University of
Bozen-Bolzano