that was interrupted for (not so) obvious reasons1

In this paper we tell a story about what in the mid 1990s happened to an action plan that was conceived according to an action research strategy. The objective of the plan was to improve the situation for the municipality of Ronneby3 and its citizens. Our story sets off on the level of events, actions and agencies and here our story is simple and straightforward. Then we consider the structural level and begin to deliberate how the two levels interact. From then on our story develops into a social temporal analysis of the rather complicated relationship between action research approaches and such particular forms of social research that aim at policies for local and regional economic growth. Research problem and research questions Let us however begin with the action research approach. There are different schools within this field.4 We agree, though, with Greenwood & Levin that action research in principle "is social research carried out by a team encompassing a professional action researcher and mem-bers of an organisation or community seeking to improve their situation. " We also agree with their statement that action research "promotes broad participation in the research process and supports action leading to more just or satisfying situation for the stakeholders".