Epistemic Resilience: Articulating Struggles and Dreams from the Co-production of Knowledge from Below Between Universities and Community Researchers

Abstract

[EN] One of the main challenges to be faced in contemporary societies of the twenty-first century is the urgency of moving towards a people-centred approach to security (Abello-Colak et al. Nuestras voces sobre seguridad humana. Diálogos sobre seguridad observatorio de seguridad humana de Medellín. Instituto de Estudios Regionales, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia), 2014). This approach relies on the human development paradigm promoted by the United Nations Development Programme (see, e.g., the Human Development Report 1994 by UNDP (1994)), which questions security approaches focused on the protection of the territorial borders of the nation-state, police control and repression, weapons and war, and understanding human security as a concern for life and human dignity. In order to contribute to a people-centred transition, this chapter explores the contributions of the Network of Community Researchers (NCR) to human security in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The NCR is an experience of co-production of knowledge from below between community researchers and academics promoted by the University of Antioquia in Medellín (Leivas et al. Journal of Global Ethics, https://doi.org.https://doi.org/10.1080/17449626.2022.2079707, 2022). Medellín is one of the most unequal cities in Latin America and internationally known for the armed conflict associated with drug trafficking (Drummond et al., 2012). However, it also stands out for its extensive organisational and community networking in favour of peace and the defence of the human rights of all the people who live on the slopes of the city (Álvarez Castaño et al., 2011). From this perspective, the NCR plays a fundamental role in articulating transformative learning spaces, struggles and dreams, and in achieving a future of peace and a more just, inclusive and sustainable city.