Professor John Briggs

  • Honorary Research Fellow (School of Geographical & Earth Sciences)

email: John.Briggs@glasgow.ac.uk

Room 533, Level 5, Senate Office, Gilbert Scott Building, G12 8qq

Import to contacts

Research interests

My current research interests focus on the relationship between the use and management of natural resources and sustainable rural development in low income countries. A particular interest revolves around questions about indigenous environmental knowledge systems, how these are constructed and re-worked, and how these inform a better understanding of sustainable rural development. The work is also sensitive to gender differences in such knowledges and how these relate to gender relations and roles in natural resource management issues. Current work is being undertaken among Bedouin communities in the south-east desert of Egypt and in the semi-arid areas of north-west South Africa.

I also have a research interest in the impacts of structural adjustment policies in Africa on peri-urban development in the major cities. This has involved field research in Tanzania, as well as the development of a rather more theoretical view in collaboration with colleagues in West Africa.

A long-standing interest has been on understanding the nature of agricultural landscapes in low income countries, with a particular emphasis on farmers' decision-making processes in the context of economic, socio-political and, increasingly, environmental circumstances. Not only is this work theoretical in nature, but it is also practical in the sense of contributing to a more general understanding of the success, or otherwise, of rural development strategies. This work has largely been carried out in Tanzania, Egypt and Sudan.

Publications

Selected publications

Briggs, J. (2013) Indigenous knowledge: a false dawn for development theory and practice? Progress in Development Studies, 13(3), pp. 231-243. (doi: 10.1177/1464993413486549)

Briggs, J. and Moyo, B. (2012) The resilience of indigenous knowledge in small-scale African agriculture: key drivers. Scottish Geographical Journal, 128(1), pp. 64-80. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2012.694703)

Belal, A., Briggs, J., Sharp, J. and Springuel, I. (2009) Bedouins by the Lake: Environment, Change, and Sustainability in Southern Egypt. American University in Cairo Press: Cairo. ISBN 9789774161988

Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. (2009) One hundred years researching Egypt: from the rule of experts to Bedouin voices? Scottish Geographical Journal, 125(3-4), pp. 256-272. (doi: 10.1080/14702540903364294)

All publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2023 | 2020 | 2015 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2001 | 1999
Number of items: 20.

2023

Philo, C. and Briggs, J. (2023) Paul Bishop: recalling an academic life. Scottish Geographical Journal, 139(3-4), pp. 257-273. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2023.2273562)

2020

Briggs, J. (2020) Ronan as educator: teacher and academic leader. Space and Polity, 24(2), pp. 288-293. (doi: 10.1080/13562576.2020.1788931)

2015

Kennedy, M. P. et al. (2015) Environmental drivers of aquatic macrophyte communities in southern tropical African rivers: Zambia as a case study. Aquatic Botany, 124, pp. 19-28. (doi: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.03.002)

2013

Briggs, J. (2013) Indigenous knowledge: a false dawn for development theory and practice? Progress in Development Studies, 13(3), pp. 231-243. (doi: 10.1177/1464993413486549)

Reed, M.S. et al. (2013) Knowledge management for land degradation monitoring and assessment: An analysis of contemporary thinking. Land Degradation and Development, 24(4), pp. 307-322. (doi: 10.1002/ldr.1124)

2012

Briggs, J. and Moyo, B. (2012) The resilience of indigenous knowledge in small-scale African agriculture: key drivers. Scottish Geographical Journal, 128(1), pp. 64-80. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2012.694703)

2011

Briggs, J. (2011) The land formalisation process and the peri-urban zone of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Planning Theory and Practice, 12(1), pp. 115-153. (doi: 10.1080/14649357.2011.545626)

2010

Sharp, J. , Briggs, J., Yacoub, H. and Hamed, N. (2010) Women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation: a critical re-evaluation of a GAD poverty alleviation project in southern Egypt. In: Chant, S.H. (ed.) International Handbook of Gender and Poverty: Concepts, Research, Policy. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp. 587-593. ISBN 9781849800952

2009

Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. (2009) One hundred years researching Egypt: from the rule of experts to Bedouin voices? Scottish Geographical Journal, 125(3-4), pp. 256-272. (doi: 10.1080/14702540903364294)

Belal, A., Briggs, J., Sharp, J. and Springuel, I. (2009) Bedouins by the Lake: Environment, Change, and Sustainability in Southern Egypt. American University in Cairo Press: Cairo. ISBN 9789774161988

2008

Briggs, J. (2008) Indigenous knowledge and development. In: Desai, V. and Potter, R.B. (eds.) The Companion to Development Studies. Hodder Education: London, UK, pp. 107-111. ISBN 9780340889145

2007

Briggs, J., Sharp, J., Yacoub, H., Hamed, N. and Roe, A. (2007) The nature of indigenous environmental knowledge production: evidence from Bedouin communities in southern Egypt. Journal of International Development, 19(2), pp. 239-251. (doi: 10.1002/jid.1337)

2006

Sharp, J. and Briggs, J. (2006) Postcolonialism and development: new dialogues? Geographical Journal, 172(1), pp. 6-9. (doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2006.00181.x)

2005

Briggs, J. (2005) The use of indigenous knowledge in development: problems and challenges. Progress in Development Studies, 5(2), pp. 99-114. (doi: 10.1191/1464993405ps105oa)

2004

Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. (2004) Indigenous knowledges and development: a postcolonial caution. Third World Quarterly, 25(4), pp. 661-676. (doi: 10.1080/01436590410001678915)

2003

Briggs, J., Sharp, J. , Hamed, N. and Yacoub, H. (2003) Changing women's roles, changing environmental knowledges: evidence from Upper Egypt. Geographical Journal, 169(4), pp. 313-325. (doi: 10.1111/j.0016-7398.2003.00095.x)

Sharp, J. , Briggs, J., Yacoub, H. and Hamed, N. (2003) Doing gender and development: understanding empowerment and local gender relations. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 28(3), pp. 281-295. (doi: 10.1111/1475-5661.00093)

2001

Briggs, J. and Yeboah, I. (2001) Structural adjustment and the contemporary sub-Saharan African city. Area, 33, pp. 18-26. (doi: 10.1111/1475-4762.00004)

Briggs, J. (2001) Key challenges for Africa in the 21st Century. Geographical Communications, 30, pp. 1-20.

1999

Briggs, J.A. and Mwamfupe, D. (1999) The changing nature of the Peri-Urban Zone in Africa: evidence from Dar-es-Salaam,Tanzania. Scottish Geographical Journal, 115(4), pp. 269-282. (doi: 10.1080/00369229918737070)

This list was generated on Wed Oct 30 19:46:42 2024 GMT.
Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections
Number of items: 20.

Articles

Philo, C. and Briggs, J. (2023) Paul Bishop: recalling an academic life. Scottish Geographical Journal, 139(3-4), pp. 257-273. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2023.2273562)

Briggs, J. (2020) Ronan as educator: teacher and academic leader. Space and Polity, 24(2), pp. 288-293. (doi: 10.1080/13562576.2020.1788931)

Kennedy, M. P. et al. (2015) Environmental drivers of aquatic macrophyte communities in southern tropical African rivers: Zambia as a case study. Aquatic Botany, 124, pp. 19-28. (doi: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.03.002)

Briggs, J. (2013) Indigenous knowledge: a false dawn for development theory and practice? Progress in Development Studies, 13(3), pp. 231-243. (doi: 10.1177/1464993413486549)

Reed, M.S. et al. (2013) Knowledge management for land degradation monitoring and assessment: An analysis of contemporary thinking. Land Degradation and Development, 24(4), pp. 307-322. (doi: 10.1002/ldr.1124)

Briggs, J. and Moyo, B. (2012) The resilience of indigenous knowledge in small-scale African agriculture: key drivers. Scottish Geographical Journal, 128(1), pp. 64-80. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2012.694703)

Briggs, J. (2011) The land formalisation process and the peri-urban zone of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Planning Theory and Practice, 12(1), pp. 115-153. (doi: 10.1080/14649357.2011.545626)

Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. (2009) One hundred years researching Egypt: from the rule of experts to Bedouin voices? Scottish Geographical Journal, 125(3-4), pp. 256-272. (doi: 10.1080/14702540903364294)

Briggs, J., Sharp, J., Yacoub, H., Hamed, N. and Roe, A. (2007) The nature of indigenous environmental knowledge production: evidence from Bedouin communities in southern Egypt. Journal of International Development, 19(2), pp. 239-251. (doi: 10.1002/jid.1337)

Sharp, J. and Briggs, J. (2006) Postcolonialism and development: new dialogues? Geographical Journal, 172(1), pp. 6-9. (doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4959.2006.00181.x)

Briggs, J. (2005) The use of indigenous knowledge in development: problems and challenges. Progress in Development Studies, 5(2), pp. 99-114. (doi: 10.1191/1464993405ps105oa)

Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. (2004) Indigenous knowledges and development: a postcolonial caution. Third World Quarterly, 25(4), pp. 661-676. (doi: 10.1080/01436590410001678915)

Briggs, J., Sharp, J. , Hamed, N. and Yacoub, H. (2003) Changing women's roles, changing environmental knowledges: evidence from Upper Egypt. Geographical Journal, 169(4), pp. 313-325. (doi: 10.1111/j.0016-7398.2003.00095.x)

Sharp, J. , Briggs, J., Yacoub, H. and Hamed, N. (2003) Doing gender and development: understanding empowerment and local gender relations. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 28(3), pp. 281-295. (doi: 10.1111/1475-5661.00093)

Briggs, J. and Yeboah, I. (2001) Structural adjustment and the contemporary sub-Saharan African city. Area, 33, pp. 18-26. (doi: 10.1111/1475-4762.00004)

Briggs, J. (2001) Key challenges for Africa in the 21st Century. Geographical Communications, 30, pp. 1-20.

Briggs, J.A. and Mwamfupe, D. (1999) The changing nature of the Peri-Urban Zone in Africa: evidence from Dar-es-Salaam,Tanzania. Scottish Geographical Journal, 115(4), pp. 269-282. (doi: 10.1080/00369229918737070)

Books

Belal, A., Briggs, J., Sharp, J. and Springuel, I. (2009) Bedouins by the Lake: Environment, Change, and Sustainability in Southern Egypt. American University in Cairo Press: Cairo. ISBN 9789774161988

Book Sections

Sharp, J. , Briggs, J., Yacoub, H. and Hamed, N. (2010) Women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation: a critical re-evaluation of a GAD poverty alleviation project in southern Egypt. In: Chant, S.H. (ed.) International Handbook of Gender and Poverty: Concepts, Research, Policy. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp. 587-593. ISBN 9781849800952

Briggs, J. (2008) Indigenous knowledge and development. In: Desai, V. and Potter, R.B. (eds.) The Companion to Development Studies. Hodder Education: London, UK, pp. 107-111. ISBN 9780340889145

This list was generated on Wed Oct 30 19:46:42 2024 GMT.

Grants

Briggs, J. and Murphy, K. 2009-2012. Southern African River Assessment Scheme (SAFRASS): establishment of a capacity-building research framework to promote river health and biodiversity in tropical southern Africa, 758,938 Euros (European Commission (ACP Programme)). In partnership with the University of Zambia, Kasanka Trust (Zambia), North-West University (South Africa), the University of Cape Town and the University of Aberdeen.


Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. 2006-2009. Environmental management and sustainable development knowledge transfer and research training programme. £104,540 (Scottish Executive International Development Fund). In collaboration with: North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa; University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and University of Malawi, Malawi.


Sharp, J. and Briggs, J. 2003-2004. Women's literacy and handicraft programmes. £8,750 (DFID Gender and Development Small Projects). Co-Investigators: I. Springuel (South Valley University, Aswan).


Briggs, J. 2002-2005. Environment, development and sustainability in semi-arid South Africa. £19,500 (DFID Academic Links Programme). Co-Investigators: J. Drummond (University of North West, South Africa).


Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. 2002-2003. Bedouin women's development programme, Wadi Allaqi, South Eastern Desert, Egypt. £9,970 (DFID Gender and Development Small Projects). Co-Investigators: I. Springuel (South Valley University, Aswan).


Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. 2001-04. Natural resource management for sustainable development in arid environments. £25,000 (DFID Academic Links Programme). Co-Investigators: A. Belal and I. Springuel (South Valley University, Aswan).


Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. 2000-2001. Bedouin women and sheep production in Upper Egypt, £8,950 (DFID Gender and Development Small Projects). Co-Investigator: I. Springuel(South Valley University, Aswan).


Briggs, J. and Sharp, J. 2000-2002. Indigenous environmental knowledges and sustainable development in semi-arid Africa, £95,411 (DFID/ESCOR). Co-Investigators: I. Springuel (South Valley University, Aswan).

Supervision

  • Mohammad Saif Al-Busaidi (PhD candidate)
  • Dorothy McGuire (PhD candidate)
  • Orleans Mfune (PhD candidate)
  • Ching Yen Sim (MRes candidate)
  • Thomas Aneurin Smith (PhD candidate)

John Briggs