Professor Heather Campbell: Research
Publications focus on the development of conceptual ideas in public policy-making in relation to space and place.
Justice, judgement and planning
This research is concerned to address the issue of how to judge between better and worse in relation to place based policy issues. The work seeks to explore the interface between theoretical ideas and planning practices and has focused attention on the need to incorporate questions of ethical values and the public good into theoretical debates about planning. In my recent publications I have explored the nature of judgement and justice arguing that just planning is the art of situated ethical judgement. This in turn links to the work of others in the Department concerned with the evolution of contemporary conceptualizations of social justice. Aspects of this research have explored participatory practices in policy making.
Associated empirical work includes a series of focus groups with practitioners and several ESRC doctoral studentships including most recently work on the construction of ethnicity in relation to consultation processes in planning, perspectives on planning and sustainability, the exercise of discourse and power in public participation strategies and the changing nature of professional identities in town planning.
Related activities
Editor of Planning Theory and Practice
Selected recent issues of Interface and editorials from Planning Theory and Practice
email : h.j.campbell@sheffield.ac.uk