2019 Planning for Transition, Venice 9-13th July

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The role of activist researchers in urban and regional planning : Analysing and comparing international case studies of social change
(AESOP, 2019) Scaffidi, Federica; Franco, Monica Lopez; Mottee, Lara; Sharkey, Megan
Activist researchers in urban planning place an emphasis on facilitating social change through innovation and empowerment. The research explores the definitions of action research, how these different dimensions of activism in urban planning can be identified and redesigned as new situations and challenges arise. In defining action research, the paper also introduces the roles that activist researchers play in contributing to practice and theory through their research. Considering the research carried out by the authors, the paper compares the different approaches adopted by the researchers analysing international cases of social change. The authors argue that the research activist positions in urban and regional planning can affect the long-term change of a place by contributing in theory and practice, defining new models and procedures. Through these examples, the research affirms that the methods applied in action research, can be constructive or critical of existing urban planning processes and can contribute to the production of knowledge for both theory and practice. However, the main concern for activist researchers will always remain the long-term impact of their research and its benefit to society.