Abstract
Research conducted within the conceptual framework of the Horizon Europe SERIGO project has highlighted a recurring issue: rural communities are often treated as homogenous entities, with limited focus on power imbalances and vulnerable and marginalised groups within these communities.
While some studies address these groups, few examine them as active subjects in the development process, rather than merely as targets of empowerment or development policies. Moreover, there is a scarcity of research that explores the interaction between marginalised communities and social and solidarity economy, despite its potential relevance in rural contexts.
In response to this gap, we developed a methodological framework within the SERIGO project, aimed at supporting researchers in conducting more inclusive and intersectional research. To address this, we introduced the concept of “intersectional critical systems thinking” (ICST), an innovative approach that integrates two established analytical frameworks: intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins, 2006) and critical systems thinking (Reynolds, 2014; Stephens et al., 2018). Both approaches share a commitment to transformative research, aiming not just to observe systemic inequalities but to actively challenge and reshape them. ICST builds on the synergies between these frameworks to provide a holistic, nuanced lens for examining rural communities without flattening the diverse experiences of individuals and marginalised communities.
ICST has been operationalised through practical tools devised to guide researchers throughout different phases of the research process: research design, data collection, and analysis. These tools help researchers critically reflect on their own positionality, critically assess the systems and boundaries that shape their case studies and consider the intersectional social categories that are most relevant to their research. This framework aims to support research that goes beyond identifying systemic barriers to actively addressing them, ultimately driving sustainable change and empowering marginalized groups in rural communities.