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Decolonizing Urban Planning Research in Global South : A Call for Shifting the Gaze

Coelho, Luana Xavier Pinto ; Melgaço, Lorena LU ; Saharan, Tara and Rajendran, Lakshmi Priya (2025) In Journal of Planning Education and Research
Abstract

Given that urban planning has served colonial and imperialist purposes, this commentary explores the existing challenges for early-career researchers conducting research designed in the Global North and carried out in/on the Global South. We offer a series of questions and provocations as an invitation to colleagues facing similar dilemmas to reflect on their own research from a decolonial methodological critique (theory, practice, and politics). We aim to broaden the questions that should be asked when choosing to study marginalized communities, with the hope that these reflections can shift the gaze and move research toward more just and rewarding practices.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
decolonial methodology, Global South, research questions, urban planning, “slum” settlements
in
Journal of Planning Education and Research
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000348424
ISSN
0739-456X
DOI
10.1177/0739456X251325150
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
id
becbef50-72e0-4b30-acfc-6c1b847441db
date added to LUP
2025-04-05 10:46:49
date last changed
2025-04-07 14:31:54
@article{becbef50-72e0-4b30-acfc-6c1b847441db,
  abstract     = {{<p>Given that urban planning has served colonial and imperialist purposes, this commentary explores the existing challenges for early-career researchers conducting research designed in the Global North and carried out in/on the Global South. We offer a series of questions and provocations as an invitation to colleagues facing similar dilemmas to reflect on their own research from a decolonial methodological critique (theory, practice, and politics). We aim to broaden the questions that should be asked when choosing to study marginalized communities, with the hope that these reflections can shift the gaze and move research toward more just and rewarding practices.</p>}},
  author       = {{Coelho, Luana Xavier Pinto and Melgaço, Lorena and Saharan, Tara and Rajendran, Lakshmi Priya}},
  issn         = {{0739-456X}},
  keywords     = {{decolonial methodology; Global South; research questions; urban planning; “slum” settlements}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Journal of Planning Education and Research}},
  title        = {{Decolonizing Urban Planning Research in Global South : A Call for Shifting the Gaze}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251325150}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0739456X251325150}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}