Barros explains in our conversation that he believes knowledge should be created collaboratively with people on the ground, rather than imposed by researchers. He discusses prefigurative practices, where local communities experiment with alternative ways of organizing. These practices often face political and social resistance, especially in the Global South. Therefore, they need legal and institutional support to survive.
Barros also stresses the importance of embodiment: paying attention to one’s bodily feelings and discomfort in organizations, as these can reveal underlying problems and improve decision-making.
Finally, he explains that social media can help mobilize people, but it is less effective for democratic debate since it encourages individual expression over constructive discussion.
With this series Experts Meet Experience, we explore how academic expertise and practical experience can come together. It shows the importance of knowledge from practice and how researchers can contribute to it through a scientific perspective.