Introduction: Qualitative Inquiry and Social Justice: Toward a Politics of Hope

What is the role of critical qualitative research in a historical present when the need for social justice has never been greater? This is a historical present that cries out for emancipatory visions, for visions that inspire transformative inquiries, and for inquiries that can provide the moral authority to move people to struggle and resist oppression. The pursuit of social justice within a transformative paradigm challenges prevailing forms of human oppression and injustice. This paradigm is firmly rooted in a human rights agenda. It requires an ethical framework that is rightsand social justice based. It requires an awareness of “the need to redress inequalities by giving precedence… to the voices of the least advantaged groups in society” (Mertens, Holmes, and Harris, 2009, p. 89). Such a paradigm addresses the wholesale failure of a government to respond to a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or on-going wars of aggression waged in our name in Iraq. Or to the ravages of neoliberal capitalism. Or to the blatant disregard for science and education on the part of the Bush administration. Or even to the public displays of racism during the 2008 U.S. presidential election (especially at campaign rallies featuring Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin).