Mitlin, D., Bennett, J., Horn, P. orcid.org/0000-0002-4122-4866 et al. (3 more authors) (2020) Knowledge matters: The potential contribution of the coproduction of research. The European Journal of Development Research, 32 (3). pp. 544-559. ISSN 0957-8811
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to share our experiences—as academics and professionals—in coproducing knowledge to improve urban development outcomes in the global South. The focus of the paper is on urban research and practice, a field in which academic work influences policy and programming, and professional knowledge (validated and certified by academic institutions) forms the basis for urban planning and management. Collaborative research coproduced with social movement activities highlights that four issues need to be addressed to establish more equitable relations. First, alternative theories of change about how research leads to social transformation must be recognised, even if they cannot be reconciled. Second, the contribution of social movement leaders to university teaching needs to be institutionalised. Third, the relative status of academics vis-à-vis non-academics must be interrogated and better understood. Fourth, the accountabilities of the researchers to the marginalised need to be established. We argue that academics are insufficiently self-critical about the power dynamics involved in knowledge production with social movements. And that long-term relations enable understandings to be built and some of these tensions to be alleviated. Our conclusion highlights the unequal power relations that under-pin these challenges and suggests some steps to address these inequalities and their negative consequences.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) 2020. |
Keywords: | North-South research; Collaboration; Power dynamics; Urban social movements; Epistemology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Urban Studies & Planning (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 19 May 2020 12:34 |
Last Modified: | 18 Nov 2021 16:29 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1057/s41287-020-00277-w |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:160945 |