In Stakeholders We Trust: Changing the Ontological and Epistemological Orientation of Built Heritage Assessment through Participatory Action Research

In the twenty-first century, the relevance of the positivistic, orthodox heritage paradigm is increasingly being called into question in terms of its ability to provide an appropriate ontological and epistemological foundation for the assessment of built heritage. Heterodox heritage theory, largely represented by heritage studies, now presents the alternative paradigms of constructivism, critical theory, and postcolonial theory that are more suited to understanding the multiple truths and the pluralistic soci-ocultural values of a wider range of stakeholders' values. Heritage is also seen as a tool for social justice and to empower communities. In this environment, existing, orthodox tools to assess the value of built heritage are inadequate. Heterodox theory is largely based on a foundation of the social sciences and Participatory Action Research (PAR) may offer a way to provide a useful tool for practitioners that encompasses both het-erodox theory and the goals of social justice and community empowerment. Ultimately, PAR may offer a theoretical basis under which heritage researchers can provide empirical evidence to the claim that the valuation of historic fabric is a fundamental human value that transcends cultures.