Taylor, P. J. (2005). "Epilogue," in Unruly Complexity: Ecology, Interpretation, Engagement. Chicago, University of Chicago Press: 203-213.

Jeremy Szteiter
May 4, 2008

Main themes:
-unruly complexity refers to complex situations that are both created from heterogenous parts and in ongoing process of being restructured
-CARE example: project to promote tree-planting in Kenya; transformation occurred from failed attempts to new approach that actively involved local expertise as well as outside aid organization; drawing upon the existing knowledge of local farmers allowed them to take further ownership in the process; community players, such as schools, became places for further work; CARE workers involved local farmers heavily in the process, which allowed the local farmers to express their knowledge in such a way that made it easier for the CARE workers to do further research and report results and advice
-ICA workshop: focus on fostering community interaction between individual, state, and corporation; facilitation focused on increasing participant investment and opportunity to offer diverse insights; direct involvement by community members allowed for extensive new developments and progress
-David Harvey project to explore Cowley auto plant closings: conflict/tension between the perceived loyalties of Harvey to the livelihood of the auto workers and plants and the union-supported communities seeking to keep the plants open

New insights:
-the attempt to understand the scope of one's knowledge and experience relative to that of others may help to generate questions that address the complexity of relationship strengths between people in complex systems of social change
Remaining questions:
-how might researchers understand their relationship with local communities when their knowledge reflects data at a more global level? What does "flexible engagement" imply?
Applications to own project:
-in collaborative play situations, consider not only how "local knowledge" of play might be drawn out, but also be responsive to the insight of others that expresses what they have been wanting and needing to say
-nurture others to define play sufficiently in their own minds so that they make use clear language when describing their play perspectives to me