March 24, 2023
Congratulations to Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Policy Development Andrea Restrepo-Mieth who recently published an article in the Planning Theory and Practice journal! Her article is based on her research in Medellín, Colombia and she examines how planners move from reflection to action in pursuit of institutional change. She introduces the concept of "simple junctures," which are key moments in time that constitute opportunities to institutionalize new practices.
Click here to read her article in full.
Abstract: This article examines how planners move from reflection to action in pursuit of institutional change. Building on the literature on reflective practice and historical institutionalism, and using Medellín as a case study, I build a framework for analyzing how planners go from reflecting on a problem and identifying its institutional origins to devising solutions based on experience, knowledge, or innovation. Those solutions are then mobilized through “simple junctures,” which are opportunities distinct from everyday processes. The findings, based on interviews, documents, and observations, show the importance of training planners to reflect on institutional factors and of leveraging simple junctures.
Bio: Andrea Restrepo-Mieth is an Assistant Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University. Her research examines the emergence and institutionalization of environmentally sustainable and socially progressive planning practices in cities in the Global South, the politics of planning for water services, and grassroots involvement in urban governance.
