Papers by Rebekah Southern
The aim of the thesis is to gain insight into the contemporary system of urban governance through... more The aim of the thesis is to gain insight into the contemporary system of urban governance through an analysis of multi-sectoral regeneration partnerships. It specifically seeks to contribute to an understanding of urban governance through an investigation of three inter-linked themes. These are firstly, the power relations that governance entails; secondly, the quality of the relationships between those involved, with particular regard to the existence (or otherwise) of trust; and, thirdly, the democratic implications of the system. Three conceptual lenses were developed to investigate those central concerns, the first drawing on insights from regime theory, the second employing the literature on social capital and the third utilising the principles of deliberative democratic theory. These lenses were applied both separately and holistically to concrete examples of three different types of multisectoral regeneration partnerships operating within the geographical location of Brighton and Hove. The purpose was firstly, to ascertain whether when viewing the partnerships holistically the exercise of power, the development of trust and the engendering of democracy were compatible with one another; secondly, to gauge whether success in one of those dimensions was to the detriment of one or more of the others; and thirdly, to examine how different types of partnerships dealt with those issues. From the case study it was found that the exercise of power, the development of trust and the engendering of democracy were difficult goals for all of the partnerships studied. It was also found those goals were incompatible with one another and that success in one was to the detriment of one or more of the others but that the different types of partnership dealt with those issues in different ways. These findings contribute to a fuller understanding of multi-sectoral regeneration partnerships in and of themselves and they also provide insights into the contemporary system of urban governance. For the practice of urban governance they indicate, for example, that policy makers may be faced with incommensurable goals. At a conceptual level the findings suggest the need for a holistic approach to the subject.
Perspectives, Nov 23, 2015
Higher education in the UK is a success story and what we do matters to society. Income is earned... more Higher education in the UK is a success story and what we do matters to society. Income is earned by delivering value – and that's clearer now in this new arena of student fees and research impact. Clarity about what we're really good at – academic programmes, learning approach and/or research theme – and communicating that powerfully is what it takes to be distinctive. Smart specialisation is a phrase we're coming to learn – perhaps we can do more to be smart as universities? We need to portray the richness of the UK sector, not vertically hierarchical but horizontally stratified around excellence with a focus on return on investment. In the global higher education landscape, winners will focus on core strengths, develop their distinctiveness, and be innovative and bold in going forward. Higher education policy adopts a largely ‘one size fits all’ approach – is this still relevant against a backdrop of an increasingly diverse sector?
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Apr 8, 2019
Policy and Politics, 2006
This article provides a comparative perspective on urban regeneration strategies through an analy... more This article provides a comparative perspective on urban regeneration strategies through an analysis of two distinct institutional designs for revitalising deprived urban neighbourhoods: neighbourhood management in Britain and the 'régies de quartier' model in France. The article draws on case studies of the Thornhill New Deal for Communities neighbourhood in Southampton and the Régie Bocca Services in Cannes to evaluate the context, philosophy and practice of partnership working and community empowerment associated with each institutional design. The article concludes by identifying some possible lessons for UK policy makers of the French experience with régies de quartier. Français Cet article offre une perspective comparative sur les stratégies de régénération urbaine à l'aide d'une analyse de deux projets institutionnels distincts pour revitaliser les quartiers défavorisés dans les villes: 'neighbourhood management' en Grande Bretagne et le modèle 'régies de quartier' en France. L'article puise dans les études de cas Thornhill New Deal for Communities neighbourhood à Southampton et Régie Bocca Services à Cannes, pour évaluer le contexte, la philosophie et la pratique du partenariat de travail et du renforcement de pouvoir de la collectivité associés à chaque projet institutionnel. Enfin, l'article identifie quelques leçons possibles pour les dirigeants britanniques inspirées par l'expérience française des régies de quartier.
Journal of Rural Studies, Apr 1, 2007
This article compares two different institutional models-state-sponsored rural partnerships and c... more This article compares two different institutional models-state-sponsored rural partnerships and community-based development trusts-for engaging and empowering local communities in area-based regeneration, using the Isle of Wight as a case study. Following a critical review of the literature on community governance, we evaluate the effectiveness of community involvement in the Island's small towns through a comparison of the performance of the two development trusts in Cowes and Ryde, on the one hand, and that of the partnerships established under the Market Towns Initiative in Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor, on the other. We conclude that both models reflect the structuring effect of central, regional and local state steering of the Island's regeneration policy community but also that a 'development trust effect' is observable in one location (Ryde), due to a capacity to stimulate new forms of community enterprise and to successfully alter political relationships within the local community. These findings support a 'new institutionalist' account of community empowerment which emphasises the importance of contextual variation and locally specific processes of institutionalisation rather than the determining effect of institutional design per se.
Local Government Studies, Jun 1, 2002
... in regeneration strategies (Brownhill and Darke, 1998) studies have shown that networks tend ... more ... in regeneration strategies (Brownhill and Darke, 1998) studies have shown that networks tend to ... they may be viewed as exercising a form of command power within the process ... and will therefore provide the second conceptual lens through which to view the partnership process. ...
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 2019
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why Gypsies and Travellers are socially... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why Gypsies and Travellers are socially excluded in England and how their experience may be reflected in other European contexts. Specifically, the paper explores the impact of planning policies on accommodation provision for Gypsies and Travellers in England and subsequently how their exclusion manifests due to the sedentarist binary definition of nomadism embedded within that policy.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on evidence from empirical research carried out by the authors in the South West of England in 2015 as part of an accommodation needs assessment of Gypsies and Travellers. The research was commissioned by a local authority but the analysis presented here was carried out in addition to the core report. The decision to comment further on the research findings in relation to policy and theory was agreed with the project funders.
Findings – The research findings show that there continues to be a lack of accommodation provided to Gypsies and Travellers in England, despite policy and legislative initiatives to the contrary. The paper identifies that current government policy in England is likely to diminish access to appropriate accommodation in the future for Gypsies and Travellers, particularly for the most vulnerable. Finally, the paper concludes that a sedentarist binary definition of nomadism has failed to recognise Gypsy and Traveller communities’ culture or mobility.
Originality/value – This paper sets out how an underpinning “sedentarist binary” definition of nomadism is used in England to determine policies of provision for Gypsies and Travellers. That definition is based on the sedentary notions of nomadism that are binary, distinguishing only between people who are mobile and people who are not, rather than acknowledging the cultural nomadism of Gypsies and Travellers. The findings are useful beyond the UK context as they help to explain why Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in wider Europe remain excluded within states despite extensive European initiatives for inclusion.
Keywords - Planning, Europe, Exclusion, Provision, Anti-gypsyism
Paper type - Research paper
The Social Research & Regeneration Unit at the University of Plymouth was commissione... more The Social Research & Regeneration Unit at the University of Plymouth was commissioned by Plymouth 2020 Partnership to evaluate the Community Renewal Education And Training Enterprise (CREATE) project as part of Plymouth’s overall Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) Phase Two Evaluation. The CREATE evaluation was conducted between the autumn of 2005 and January 2006. This report summarises the main research findings
Methodological Innovations Online, 2011
In this paper we explore a methodological innovation in a practitioner based context-data sharing... more In this paper we explore a methodological innovation in a practitioner based context-data sharing, the integration of data sets from different sources to improve organisational knowledge and strategic decision making. In this case the innovation is explored within public sector organisations. Evidence for the impact of such approaches is drawn from a case study at a UK local authority, which took part in a long term project to explore the issues of data sharing within their organisation. The paper highlights the issues that arise in trying to achieve data sharing in a live context and the breadth of barriers that such an innovation faces. However, it also highlights the value that can result from such practices, once implemented.
The aim of the thesis is to gain insight into the contemporary system of urban governance through... more The aim of the thesis is to gain insight into the contemporary system of urban governance through an analysis of multi-sectoral regeneration partnerships. It specifically seeks to contribute to an understanding of urban governance through an investigation of three inter-linked themes. These are firstly, the power relations that governance entails; secondly, the quality of the relationships between those involved, with particular regard to the existence (or otherwise) of trust; and, thirdly, the democratic implications of the system. Three conceptual lenses were developed to investigate those central concerns, the first drawing on insights from regime theory, the second employing the literature on social capital and the third utilising the principles of deliberative democratic theory. These lenses were applied both separately and holistically to concrete examples of three different types of multisectoral regeneration partnerships operating within the geographical location of Brighton...
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why Gypsies and Travellers are socially e... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how and why Gypsies and Travellers are socially excluded in England and how their experience may be reflected in other European contexts. Specifically, the paper explores the impact of planning policies on accommodation provision for Gypsies and Travellers in England and subsequently how their exclusion manifests due to the sedentarist binary definition of nomadism embedded within that policy. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on evidence from empirical research carried out by the authors in the South West of England in 2015 as part of an accommodation needs assessment of Gypsies and Travellers. The research was commissioned by a local authority but the analysis presented here was carried out in addition to the core report. The decision to comment further on the research findings in relation to policy and theory was agreed with the project funders. Findings The research findings show that there continues to be a lack of accom...
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 2015
Journal of Rural Studies, 2007
This article compares two different institutional models-state-sponsored rural partnerships and c... more This article compares two different institutional models-state-sponsored rural partnerships and community-based development trusts-for engaging and empowering local communities in area-based regeneration, using the Isle of Wight as a case study. Following a critical review of the literature on community governance, we evaluate the effectiveness of community involvement in the Island's small towns through a comparison of the performance of the two development trusts in Cowes and Ryde, on the one hand, and that of the partnerships established under the Market Towns Initiative in Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor, on the other. We conclude that both models reflect the structuring effect of central, regional and local state steering of the Island's regeneration policy community but also that a 'development trust effect' is observable in one location (Ryde), due to a capacity to stimulate new forms of community enterprise and to successfully alter political relationships within the local community. These findings support a 'new institutionalist' account of community empowerment which emphasises the importance of contextual variation and locally specific processes of institutionalisation rather than the determining effect of institutional design per se. r
Methodological Innovations Online, 2011
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Papers by Rebekah Southern
Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on evidence from empirical research carried out by the authors in the South West of England in 2015 as part of an accommodation needs assessment of Gypsies and Travellers. The research was commissioned by a local authority but the analysis presented here was carried out in addition to the core report. The decision to comment further on the research findings in relation to policy and theory was agreed with the project funders.
Findings – The research findings show that there continues to be a lack of accommodation provided to Gypsies and Travellers in England, despite policy and legislative initiatives to the contrary. The paper identifies that current government policy in England is likely to diminish access to appropriate accommodation in the future for Gypsies and Travellers, particularly for the most vulnerable. Finally, the paper concludes that a sedentarist binary definition of nomadism has failed to recognise Gypsy and Traveller communities’ culture or mobility.
Originality/value – This paper sets out how an underpinning “sedentarist binary” definition of nomadism is used in England to determine policies of provision for Gypsies and Travellers. That definition is based on the sedentary notions of nomadism that are binary, distinguishing only between people who are mobile and people who are not, rather than acknowledging the cultural nomadism of Gypsies and Travellers. The findings are useful beyond the UK context as they help to explain why Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in wider Europe remain excluded within states despite extensive European initiatives for inclusion.
Keywords - Planning, Europe, Exclusion, Provision, Anti-gypsyism
Paper type - Research paper
Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on evidence from empirical research carried out by the authors in the South West of England in 2015 as part of an accommodation needs assessment of Gypsies and Travellers. The research was commissioned by a local authority but the analysis presented here was carried out in addition to the core report. The decision to comment further on the research findings in relation to policy and theory was agreed with the project funders.
Findings – The research findings show that there continues to be a lack of accommodation provided to Gypsies and Travellers in England, despite policy and legislative initiatives to the contrary. The paper identifies that current government policy in England is likely to diminish access to appropriate accommodation in the future for Gypsies and Travellers, particularly for the most vulnerable. Finally, the paper concludes that a sedentarist binary definition of nomadism has failed to recognise Gypsy and Traveller communities’ culture or mobility.
Originality/value – This paper sets out how an underpinning “sedentarist binary” definition of nomadism is used in England to determine policies of provision for Gypsies and Travellers. That definition is based on the sedentary notions of nomadism that are binary, distinguishing only between people who are mobile and people who are not, rather than acknowledging the cultural nomadism of Gypsies and Travellers. The findings are useful beyond the UK context as they help to explain why Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in wider Europe remain excluded within states despite extensive European initiatives for inclusion.
Keywords - Planning, Europe, Exclusion, Provision, Anti-gypsyism
Paper type - Research paper