Evaluating Social Movement Action, and Implications for Transformative Change and Peace in Zimbabwe: Research Method Reflections.

Zimbabwean civic organizations and social movements have faced profound strategic dilemmas in their efforts to contribute to transformative change and peace in Zimbabwe. While major civic strategic actions over the last decade have contributed to significant social, political and economic change, they have at times also fuelled the very polarizing processes that have severely undermined peace and stability. This paper discusses the research methods used to assess the outcomes of three strategic actions taken by two pivotal social movement organizations in Zimbabwe, and secondly, the contributions of their actions for transformative change and peace. It reflects on the broad findings the analysis produced, and the challenges and benefits such methods have for evaluating outcomes and impacts of social movements working to bring national level change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]