Theory and Action for Emancipation: Elements of a Critical Realist Approach

Adopting a non-Habermasian critical realist position, this paper seeks to outline some key elements of a realist ontology, on the one hand, and a radical critical stance on the other. The relationship of critical realism to positivism and interpretivism is described, and the case for methodological pluralism made. The elements of realism described are connection of the particular with general, contribution to knowledge, and construction of alternatives. The critical aims entail a commitment to emancipation, a focus on issues of equality and inequality, a questioning of the status quo, and a challenging of ideology. One key conclusion for practice concerns the alliances for researchers with less conservative members of organizations in order to avoid compromise on emancipatory aims. The contribution of the paper is summarized in a concluding table.