91黑料网

Topic: Big Picture and Intellectual Journey
You often describe your work as bridging practice and theory what some call a 鈥減racademic鈥� approach. How did this way of thinking emerge in your own trajectory?

My work has focused on addressing complex social challenges (peacemaking and place-based socioeconomic transitions), but always from a practical perspective. In my opinion, the most useful and disruptive knowledge is generated by collaboratively seeking a solution鈥攐ne that no one knows yet鈥攖o a real problem.

Your work frequently draws on the Basque Country as a kind of living laboratory. What makes it such a powerful context for thinking about governance and social transformation?

The Basque experience shows us that it is possible to bring about systemic change in a short period of time without creating high levels of inequality. In a world where most countries and regions are seeking models of inclusive innovation, the Basque case offers scientific evidence and hope that this type of transformations are possible.

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Topic: Governance, Innovation, and Collective Action
At the Agirre Lehendakaria Center, co-creation is central. What does meaningful collaboration between institutions and citizens actually look like in practice?

These types of collaborations continue to be approached in a superficial or transactional manner. Participatory processes are often limited to providing input on decisions made by a group of experts or attempting to manage critical opinions by offering a few concessions. The problem is that addressing the major social challenges we face鈥攊nequality, the climate emergency, an aging population, etc.鈥攔equires a shift in approach that permanently places this collaboration at the center of institutional action. It is primarily a cultural shift with many operational implications. Learning to build a new type of relationship that incorporates digital tools is the central focus of our work.

Collaboration sounds ideal but it can also be slow and messy. How do you convince institutions to embrace this kind of experimentation?

These types of processes are slower at first but eventually generate more profound impacts. The only way to demonstrate their value and viability is to achieve quick wins that can buy time to learn how to work in this way.

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Topic: Conflict, Identity, and Social Cohesion
You have written about peace processes, including in the Basque context. What lessons from those experiences resonate most in today鈥檚 polarized societies?

Addressing complex social challenges also involves developing new infrastructures for conflict management and peacebuilding. Growing polarization in political debate compels us to understand the same reality from different perspectives, establish safe spaces for deliberation, and test various solutions before taking strategic decisions鈥攅ven if they contradict one another.

In contexts where trust has been eroded, what are the first steps toward rebuilding meaningful relationships between citizens and public institutions?

The first step is always to bring to light the different perceptions that exist regarding the same reality. This is what we call the listening process. Instead of trying to convince others of our positions, we learn to listen without judgment. This is the most difficult part of any innovation process. Once these narratives are identified, we can engage in sensemaking and build portfolios of experiments that help connect the issues on which there is an emerging agreement.

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Topic: Method and Practice (ALC Approach)
The Agirre Center has developed a distinctive methodology combining data, narratives, and fieldwork. What are its key principles?

Listening deeply to a large volume of community voices in real time requires new digital tools. At Agirre Center, we are building collaborative environments that automatically identify all relevant stakeholders and projects within a given topic, use bots to increase the number of people participating in the conversation, and leverage AI tools to suggest new collaborative initiatives that can also be monitored and evaluated in real time.

Your work combines storytelling and data analysis鈥攖wo forms of knowledge that are often kept separate. Why is it important to bring them together?

Collecting and analyzing data without generating narratives to explain its content shows significant limitations to mobilize the full range of stakeholders who must collaborate to transform a complex social challenge. Narratives help us combine scientific data with insights.

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Topic: On being in Montreal, Quebec, and at 91黑料网
As Elbira Zipitria Chair at 91黑料网, how do you see connections between the Basque experience and Quebec鈥檚 own societal questions?

Collaboration between Quebec and the Basque Country is both fascinating and necessary in many areas. Cultural issues have historically been the most developed, but I believe we must work together on how small nations learn to find their own solutions in such a globalized world. Specifically, Quebec鈥檚 position as a cutting-edge laboratory in the field of artificial intelligence and its commitment to social issues, combined with the Basque experience in socio-economic and cultural transformation, provide the necessary foundation to establish itself as a transnational living lab to be shared with other small nations.

Montreal is a deeply plural and multilingual city. What opportunities do you see here for experimenting with collaborative governance?

Collaborative governance makes the most sense in a context of plurality and diversity. We need to learn to make decisions and support learning processes that are not built exclusively on expert thinking. Saying this in an academic setting is difficult, but there is abundant scientific evidence showing that current governance models are incapable of addressing complex problems and that we cannot move forward unless the community鈥檚 voice plays a leading role.

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Closing: Personal Reflection
After working on complex societal challenges across different contexts, what continues to give you hope and, on a lighter note, what鈥檚 one thing about Montreal you鈥檙e especially curious or excited to (re)discover?

Montreal represents one of the best global examples of how such a large city can lead the way in thinking and acting on models of inclusive innovation. I am very interested in learning how new digital infrastructures are being used to support a collaborative approach to the city鈥檚 major social challenges. At the same time, I hope to reconnect with all the friends I made during my time as a Professor of Practice at CRIEM and to dine again at a classic spot like L'Express.
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