Theoretical Frameworks for Housing Studies

Abstract

This chapter explores ideas and assumptions that have been used to understand housing in contemporary societies, and tries to establish a coherent framework and philosophy to organise the analysis in the rest of this book: the social relations of housing perspective. Some key concepts and issues are also introduced to the review of theoretical perspectives on housing studies. This provides a framework for the critical analysis of the following chapters, in which some of the approaches which have dominated much recent discussion of housing in Australia are covered, especially those focusing primarily on tenure and housing consumption. This chapter also questions models which uncritically assume liberal interventionist roles of government.