Dr Paula Meth is a lecturer in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests cover the areas of gender and violence, informal housing, crime management, inequality and injustice, governance, local politics and everyday power relations, all focusing on the global South, particularly South Africa,. Her current research focusses on the contributions made by citizens both in challenging and managing social problems but is also in the broader impact of national and global trends towards neo-liberalism and their effect on local participation. Her work is informed by ongoing debates within Feminism and Development Studies, as well as moves within Planning to broaden and re-examine the terms of reference of planners and their relationship with broader society. Also related to this work is an ongoing interest in developing qualitative methodology, in particular making use of diaries to inform the research process.
This seminar is presented jointly by the UCT EGS Department and ACC