Abstract: The paper uses the Offenders ’ Social Reintegration

characteristics of new forms of action research and to reflect on the main debates within action research literature. Firstly, new forms of action research deal-ing with community issues tend to take place within complex systems, aiming to bring potential partners together and to facilitate the development of net-works of organisations. Networking presupposes a more open-ended mode of research and opens the question of participation of the social groups con-cerned. The varying and changing degrees of partic-ipation within the Project are described with refer-ence to the role of the researchers and the discrep-ancy between formal and informal partnerships. Secondly, the relation between research and action is dealt with via a discussion of the different types of knowledge produced in the course of the Project and their appropriateness for informing and evaluating practice. The implications of these arguments for the scientific status of action research and the paradigm within which it can be located are also addressed. Thirdly, the paper discusses the role of the various institutional contexts in shaping and constraining possible types of research and action. Finally, the type of change pursued by action research projects is considered with reference to the ongoing debate within action research literature on the role of poli-tics, leading to the acknowledgement of the in-evitable implication of political negotiations and power in any initiative towards social change