ABSTRACT
At a global level Vanessa Watson evidences the growing body of research challenging the hegemony of Northern epistemologies and universalized Northern theory as well as the transfer of predominantly Northern planning ideas and practices in the face of the recognition of the power and importance of local context. The role of the ‘cultural turn’ in its planning manifestation has been to highlight the importance and implications of local cultural variation, however, the relativism this implies for Watson raises puzzling issues of balance and judgement between competing claims, world views, cultures, identities and rationalities leading to an identified ‘trap of relativism’. The solution to this conundrum is to be found through an enlargement of thought based on considering multiple perspectives and contexts such as may be engaged through cross-global comparative research offering the possibility to counter Northern predominance. Finally, she notes that there is no ‘philosophical tradition’ that would in principle support the escalating crime, violence and social breakdown set in motion by urban development trends producing urban marginalization and inequality.
