ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the use of collective narrative methods to research and contribute to unarmed insurgencies and outlines methods for generating useful knowledge for theorists and practitioners. It focuses on the tradition of "outside witness" as described by narrative theorist and practitioner Michael White and developed for diverse community settings by researcher and practitioner David Denborough, Cheryl White, Barbara Wingard and others connected to the Dulwich Centre in Adelaide. The chapter describes narrative community work before proceeding to unpack how to apply this to civil resistance research. It also explores the beguiling complexity, depth and diversity of narrative community work practice, a complete articulation and theorising of narrative community work's core organising principles. The chapter looks at how narrative community work methods might enable researchers to explore each of the four dimensions of civil resistance–power-breaking strategy, normative action, dialogue and utopian enactment–and how the four dimensions interact and reinforce or complement the others.
