Learning about learning: Lessons from public engagement and deliberation on urban river restoration

Judith Petts*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper provides a new discussion of how people learn through deliberative processes, drawing upon empirical analysis of a novel public engagement process for urban river restoration. Such critical evaluation is rare and yet will be crucial to both theoretical development and learning about engagement practice, not least in a policy area subject to strong regulatory drivers for public participation. The analysis supports two important learning mechanisms - the use of 'gatekeepers' of knowledge, interests and values, and the privileging of narrative. It provides new evidence of instrumental and communicative learning about shared priorities and criteria for effective river restoration that evolved through the deliberative process and directly informed the restoration scheme. It is important to question whether and how such site or context-specific learning might inform other restoration schemes. Finally, the paper questions the often ignored issue of expert learning, not least the issue of the link between individual and organizational learning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)300-311
Number of pages12
JournalGeographical Journal
Volume173
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Earth-Surface Processes

Keywords

  • Birmingham
  • Deliberation
  • Learning
  • Public engagement
  • Urban river restoration

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