Professor Douglas Robertson

Honorary Professor

Faculty of Social Sciences Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Douglas Robertson

Contact details

About me

My research expertise focuses on sociological understandings of place, belonging and identity, examining how these interact and influence society, particularly in relation to both social and housing policies at both local and national scales. Having spent most of my teaching career to date contributing to  post-graduate MSc / Diploma in Housing Studies, following a five year term as Head of School, I moved over to teach undergraduate Sociology and Social Policy. So having joined the School as its youngest lecturer on 1st September 1988, I now now find myself being the second longest serving member of the academic staff. Hobbies: sustainable cycling, thoughtfull photography, purposeful hill walking, passive politics, challenging gardening and satisfying slow cooking.

Having spent years undertaking empirical studies of housing renewal and regeneration, adopting a public policy focus, I was struck by the fact that both processes appeared cyclical, being re-applied in a number of 'deprived communities' many times. While physical housing conditions undoubtedly improved over time, other social dimensions of poverty persisted and, if anything, got progressively worse (Robertson, 2014 http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/reports ). Trying to explain this pattern led me to the reflective sociological practice of Pierre Bourdieu and I have drawn on his work to better understand the largely hidden significance and power of place, given its importance in constructions of identity and belonging. Place, belonging and identity is also critical in the social construction of societal hierarchies, which display a remarkable resilience (see Robertson, 2013; Smyth & Robertson, 2013; Robertson, 2011; Robertson et al, 2010; Robertson, 2008, Robertson et al, 2008). My initial interest in identity developed out from teaching Scottish Society which explores four distinct aspects of identity: nation, class, gender and ethnicity. This led to undertaking a study of the English in Scotland, with colleagues, which considered the notion of a ‘hidden' minority as well as discrimination based on voice (see McIntosh et al, 2004a; 2004b; 2005 & 2008). I have also had a long-standing interest in flatted properties, especially the Scottish tenement, and have examined its management, maintenance and renewal over many years. Of particualr note was a major study of Scottish Housing Action Areas, with Nick Bailey, and a follow on series of international comparative studies for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on private flat management systems which helped contibute to the introduction of Commonhold legislation in England and Wales.   This work has attracted three PhD students who have a direct interest in social identity: Iris Altenberger, undertook a groundbreaking study on the renewal of Raploch, through focusing on the social and visual culture of place; Ian Glen, currently completing an ethnographic study of Fallin, Stirlingshire, exploring class and gendered identities; and, finally, Helen Young who is examining the historic role played by rural schools and female teachers in the construction of communities around Loch Tay.

Community Contribution

Scottish Government

Invited in September 2009 by Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities to chair the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group which was charged with coming forward with a consultation paper on future legislative reform by December 2009, which fed into the Private Rented Sector (Scotland) Act, 2011. The Group then turned its attention to advising the Scottish Government on the development of a strategy for the private rented sector to help support tenants, landlords, local authorities and other interested parties. See

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/government/prsreview/strategy

Scottish Government

Invited in September 2013 by Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities to chair the Scottish Government's Private Rented Sector Tenancy Review Group which was charged with examining the suitability and effectiveness of the current Private Rented Sector tenancy regime and develop recommendations for the Scottish Government as to how the current regime might work better and/ or the options for taking reform forward. The Group reported in May 2014. See: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/government/Tenancy-Review

Divisional / Faculty Contribution

Convenor of the Children, Families and Relationships Research Group
Research group involves 25 active researchers across the University (Social Science, Nursing, Education, Humanities and Sport

Other Academic Activities

‘Home not housing' Engaging with Well-being Outcomes- Scottish Universities Insight Institute Well-being Programme
University of Strathclyde and University of Dundee

University Contribution

Head of Department, Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling.

Served as Head of Department for the 5 year term

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Professor Douglas Robertson | University of Stirling

https://www.stir.ac.uk/people/255980

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