The Logic of Movement Practice: an Embodiment Approach to Activist Research Raphael Schlembach (authors final draft) Methodologies of Activist Research are very much born out of a dilemma: many Activist Researchers find themselves in a social space located somewhere in between academic and activist circles, yet they often feel rejected by both. On the one hand, academia demands political neutrality aŶd ƌejeĐts the ƌeseaƌĐheƌs iŶǀolǀeŵeŶt iŶ soĐial ŵoǀeŵeŶts. IŶ aĐtiǀist circles, on the other hand, researchers – as engaged as they might be – are frequently accused of turning the movement into a talking shop. 1 I want to outline and contribute to Activist Research methodologies that try to break with this dilemma and dichotomy by melting the boundaries between activism and academia, between object and subject and between theory and practice. I use Pierre Bouƌdieus theoƌLJ of pƌaĐtiĐe aŶd his ƌefledžiǀe soĐiologLJ as a ďasis foƌ ŵLJ aƌguŵeŶtatioŶ. 2 It will constitute the link between the archetype of pure thought – academia –, and the archetype of action – movement activism. Going beyond Bourdieu, however, the chapter outlines a methodology of theory as practice. I aim to show how the subject and object of studLJ ďeĐoŵe ďluƌƌed iŶ soĐial ŵoǀeŵeŶt pƌaĐtiĐe usiŶg Bouƌdieus theoƌetiĐal tools aŶd conclude that theory can be considered to constitute a practice in itself (at least in the social movement context). The chapter brings together Bourdieusian sociology with the practice of Activist Research to show how the distinction between theory and practice, or thought and action, limits our grasp of the logic of social movement realities.