Participation, power and social research in Central Australia

Abstract

In Central Australia, where alienation, oppression and powerlessness of Aboriginal interests dominate social relations, social analysts face significant ethical, methodological and political dilemmas. The fact that such dilemmas have been debated for many years does not eliminate the difficulties. As Bell observed of sociology, most social analysis seems to be done 'on the relatively powerless for the relatively powerful' (Bell 1978, 25, emphasis added). The need to redirect research in Aboriginal affairs away from this dominant model towards Aboriginal empowerment, has long been recognised both by researchers and politically active Aboriginal people. For example, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress presented a declaration to the Anthropology section of ANZAAS in 1982 in the following terms (Central Australian Aboriginal Congress 1982, 2).