Professor Ryan Powell

School of Geography and Planning

Professor of Urban Studies

Ryan Powell profile photo
Profile picture of Ryan Powell profile photo
r.s.powell@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6182
Room D11d, Geography and Planning Building

Full contact details

Professor Ryan Powell
School of Geography and Planning
Room D11d
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

I am Director of the (WRDTP) and sit on the Universitys Research Culture Steering Group. I joined the University in September 2016 as Reader in Urban Studies. Prior to joining the School of Geography and Planning I worked for 14 years at the interdisciplinary Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. I was awarded a BA in Economics and Public Policy from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2002 and I subsequently studied part-time for an MA in Human Geography at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2006. 

My academic background and orientation is multidisciplinary and cuts across urban studies, sociology, geography, planning, history and politics, but my research is focused on urban marginality.  I have always worked in a genuinely interdisciplinary environment and benefited greatly from exposure to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches.  I have worked on studies for the EU, ESRC, JRF, the Big Lottery Fund, DWP, CLG, Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, regional bodies, and various local authorities and charitable organisations. 

I am affiliated to the ,   and the within the University of Sheffield.  Externally, I am a member of the Editorial Board of the international journal , a Fellow of the , and a Trustee of .

I welcome enquiries from research students and post-doctoral candidates, but I am particularly interested in research in the following broad areas: Gypsies and Travellers, Roma and the city; migrant youth and cities; housing and urban inequalities; class and place.

Research interests

The central theme of my research is seeking to combine empiricism and theory in understanding the socio-dynamics of unequal power relations and their consequences in terms of urban marginalisation, both contemporary and historical. This includes access to housing and employment as well as wider questions of citizenship, urbanization, and the stigmatisation of "outsider" groups.

This reflects a commitment to striving for an objective understanding of the development of contemporary society and its unequal outcomes, alongside an explicit engagement with public policy and the challenges it faces. By extension, this often entails the exposure of policy "myths" and critique of the inadequacy of current conceptualisations.  A distinguishing aspect of my research is sensitivity to a long-term perspective in terms of capturing the dynamic and intergenerational development of human societies and the cities they produce.  I often work with community organisations in understanding urban experiences of the margins, where our values, aims and priorities align.

Presently I am developing research with (Gypsy and Traveller Exchange) on the harms of planning, and with (Football Unites Racism Divides) on countering migrant stigmatisation and exclusion through sport.

I also act as mentor to ESRC postdoctoral fellow Yu-Tung Wu whose research is centred on housing transformations, financialization and everyday urbanism in Taiwan.  He explores this unfolding through the story of "Military Dependents' Villages" (MDVs) in Taipei using urban history, archival analysis, observation, interviews, and qualitative GIS.

Recent research projects

  • 2020-2023: , EU Horizon2020
  • 2020-2023: , EU Horizon2020
Publications

Edited books

  • Alexandrescu F, Powell R & Vilenica A (Eds.) (2025) ..
  • Emery J, Powell R & Crookes L (Eds.) (2023) Class, Emotions and the Affective Politics of Social Inequality. Sage.
  • Flint J & Powell R (Ed.) (2019) . Springer International Publishing.

Journal articles

  • Haynes W, Phillips R & Powell R (2025) . cultural geographies.
  • Grabowska I, Hansen C, Jastrzebowska A, Lind J, Manafi I, Nienaber B, Powell R & Shahrokh T (2025) . Comparative Migration Studies, 13(1).
  • Emery J, Powell R & Crookes L (2023) . The Sociological Review, 71(2), 283-295.
  • Powell R & Simone A (2022) . Housing Studies, 37(6), 837-846.
  • Hincks S & Powell R (2022) . Environment and Planning A, 54(7), 1391-1410.
  • Burgum S, Jones H & Powell R (2022) . Environment and Planning C Politics and Space, 40(6), 1219-1236.
  • Cretan R, Kupka P, Powell R & Walach V (2022) . International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 46(1), 82-100.
  • Powell R, Gornicka B & O'Riagain R (2019) Richard Kilminster and Post-philosophical Sociology: Editors Introduction to the Special Issue on the Sociology of Sociology in Long-term Perspective". Human Figurations: Long-term Perspectives on the Human Condition, 8(1).
  • Cretan R & Powell RS (2018) . International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 42(3), 423-441.
  • Powell R (2017) . Global Discourse, 7(4), 516-520.
  • Lever J & Powell RS (2017) Problems of involvement and detachment: Norbert Elias and the investigation of contemporary social processes. Human Figurations, 6(2).
  • Powell R & Lever J (2017) . Current Sociology, 65(5), 680-699.
  • Crisp R & Powell R (2017) . Urban Studies, 54(8), 1784-1807.
  • Powell R (2016) . Historical Social Research, 41(3), 134-156.
  • Cole I, Powell R & Sanderson E (2016) . Sociological Research Online, 21(2).
  • Powell R (2015) . Housing, Theory and Society, 32(3), 320-345.
  • Flint JF, Kruithof B & Powell RS (2015) Introduction to the Special Issue of Human Figurations on Civilising Offensives. Human Figurations, 4(1).
  • Powell RS (2013) The Theoretical Concept of the Civilising Offensive (Beschavingsoffensief): Notes on its Origins and Uses. Human Figurations, 2(2).
  • Powell R (2013) . International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 37(1), 115-134.
  • Flint J & Powell R (2012) . Sociological Research Online, 17(3), 153-162.
  • Powell R (2011) . Antipode, 43(2), 471-493.
  • Powell R (2010) . Space and Polity, 14(2), 189-206.
  • Beatty C, Fothergill S, Houston D & Powell R (2010) . Policy Studies, 31(2), 143-162.
  • Beatty C, Fothergill S, Houston D, Powell R & Sissons P (2009) . Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 27(6), 958-974.
  • Powell R & Flint J (2009) . Housing, Theory and Society, 26(3), 159-178.
  • Powell R (2008) . Housing, Theory and Society, 25(2), 87-109.
  • Powell R (2007) . People, Place and Policy Online, 1(3), 112-123.
  • Beatty C, Fothergill S & Powell R (2007) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 39(7), 1654-1675.
  • Allen C, Powell R, Casey R & Coward S (2007) . Sociology, 41(2), 239-258.
  • Casey R, Coward S, Allen C & Powell R (2007) . Town Planning Review, 78(3), 311-334.
  • Gore T, Powell RS & Wells P (2006) 'The contribution of rural community businesses to integrated rural development: "Local services for local people"'. Cahiers d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales.
  • Powell R () . Space and Polity, 1-3.
  • Powell RS () . People, Place and Policy online, 8(1), 1-3.
  • Beatty C, Fothergill S & Powell R () . People, Place and Policy Online, 6(2), 90-100.

Book chapters

  • Alexandrescu F, Powell R & Vilenica A (2025) , Urban Marginality Racialisation Interdependence Learning from Eastern Europe (pp. 1-16).
  • Marshall M, Hincks S & Powell R (2023) , The Routledge Handbook of Housing and Welfare (pp. 38-53). Routledge
  • Flint J & Powell R (2021) , Global Urbanism Knowledge Power and the City (pp. 80-87).
  • Powell R & van Baar H (2019) In van Baar H, Ivasiuc A & Kreide R (Ed.), The Securitization of the Roma in Europe (pp. 91-113). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
  • Powell R (2019) Beyond "employability": youth unemployment, socialisation and social stratification In Becke G & Ernst S (Ed.), Transformationen der Arbeitsgesellschaft / Transformation of working Society (pp. 189-210). London: Springer.
  • Powell R & Robinson D (2019) , Class Ethnicity and State in the Polarized Metropolis Putting Wacquant to Work (pp. 187-212).
  • Flint J & Powell R (2019) , Class Ethnicity and State in the Polarized Metropolis Putting Wacquant to Work (pp. 1-21).
  • Crisp R & Powell RS (2017) Youth unemployment, interdependence and power: Tensions and resistance within an alternative, co-produced employment programme In Bevir M, McKee K & Matthews P (Ed.), Decentring Urban Governance: Narratives, Resistance and Contestation (pp. 38-63). Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Flint J & Powell R (2016) Scottish enlightenment and the sectarianism civilising offensive, Bigotry Football and Scotland (pp. 82-96).
  • Flint J & Powell RS (2014) In Pickard S (Ed.), Anti-Social Behaviour in Britain Victorian and Contemporary Perspectives (pp. 42-52). Palgrave Macmillan UK
  • Flint J & Powell R (2014) , Football Hooliganism Fan Behaviour and Crime Contemporary Issues (pp. 71-91).
  • Powell RS (2014) Civilizing Process In Forsyth CJ & Copes H (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Deviance Sage Publications
  • Flint J & Powell RS (2013) In Depelteau F & Landini T (Ed.), Norbert Elias and Social Theory (pp. 261-274). Palgrave Macmillan US
  • Flint J & Powell R (2013) Scottish enlightenment and the sectarianism civilising offensive, Bigotry Football and Scotland (pp. 82-96).
  • Flint J & Powell R (2011) In Burdsey D (Ed.), Race, Ethnicity and Football (pp. 191-206). London: Routledge.
  • Beatty C, Fothergill S, Houston D & Powell R (2010) Women on incapacity benefits: New survey evidence from the UK In Kemp PA (Ed.), Social Protection for a Post-Industrial World
  • Flint J & Powell R (2009) Civilising offensives: Education, football and "eradicating" sectarianism in Scotland In Millie A (Ed.), Securing Respect: Behavioural Expectations and Anti-social Behaviour in the UK Policy Press
  • Powell RS & Cole I () Housing and welfare reform In Foster L, Brunton A, Deeming C & Haux T (Ed.), In Defence of Welfare 2 Social Policy Association

Book reviews

  • Powell R (2025) . Housing Studies, 40(2), 511-512.
  • Powell R (2023) . Housing Studies, 38(7), 1365-1366.
  • Powell R (2023) . Housing Studies, 38(2), 349-350.
  • Powell R (2021) . Dialogues in Human Geography, 11(2), 337-340.
  • Powell R (2021) . Housing Studies, 36(4), 617-618.
  • Powell R (2020) . Housing Studies, 35(7), 1332-1333.
  • Powell R (2017) . International Journal of Housing Policy, 17(4), 603-605.
  • Powell R (2014) . Housing Studies, 29(7), 994-996.
  • Powell R (2012) . Housing Studies, 27(8), 1214-1216.

Reports

  • Robinson D, Hickman P, Casey R, Green S & Powell R (2007) Understanding Housing Demand. Learning From Rising Markets In Yorkshire And The Humber
Teaching activities

My primary teaching focus is on urban marginality, housing issues and the challenges facing cities and publics in the contemporary period.  I teach on the following module:

  • GPL313, Housing and Urban Inequalities
PhD supervision

I am Primary Supervisor for the following postgraduate research students:

  • Camille Rantz Mc Donald: Gypsies and Travellers and the harms of planning: counter-mapping, oral histories and housing justice (with Ste Hincks and Ellie Rogers (Leeds GATE) WRDTP collaborative award)
  • Charly Morris: Migrant women and urban activisms (with SJ Cooper-Knock and Will Mason)
  • Francesca Guarino: Beyond the sea, beyond the border: exploring racialised borders and solidarities from the urban ground in Palermo (with Michele Lancione)

I am a member of the Supervisory team for the following ESRC-funded students:

  • Isla MacRae (Sociological Studies): Everyday negotiations of space and place amongst refugees and asylum seekers in the North West of England (with Sarah Neal and Julie Walsh)