Good research and ‘selling it’ matters

Abstract

I believe that if you want to change your local situation, take personal action, but if you want to change the world, create ideas – and see others take the majority of the action. This notion that ideas and thus theory – not necessarily good theory – can have a profound impact can be seen in the work-life of most economists and social scientists who chose academia over activism. Academic theorising matters, as the direction of activism will inevitably be shaped by some theoretical notion. So is activism a waste of time for the ‘serious’ academic?