Appreciative Inquiry: Mobilising Potentials Within Police Organisations to Realise Human Rights

Deficit-orientation is still the default mode used to analyse and seek change of the social world, including in police organisations and in human rights practice. This contribution outlines the basic elements of a strength and resource-oriented look at furthering human rights realisation by the police, with the specific focus on the approach and method of Appreciative Inquiry. In line with systemic thinking, Appreciative Inquiry is widely used for organisational research and development in different areas. Social scientific research has shown Appreciative Inquiry to be successful in mobilising positive energy leading to desired change. The examples of its use in police trainings described in this contribution clearly highlight its potential to refocus attention on what already works well in police practice and how success stories can be harnessed to further strengthen police work in line with human rights standards.