Urban Planning in the Global South

Description

This book addresses the on-going crisis of informality in rapidly growing cities of the global South. The authors offer a Southern perspective on planning theory, explaining how the concept of conflicting rationalities complements and expands upon a theoretical tradition which still primarily speaks to global ‘Northern’ audiences. De Satgé and Watson posit that a significant change is needed in the makeup of urban planning theory and practice – requiring an understanding of the ‘conflict of rationalities’ between state planning and those struggling to survive in urban informal settlements – for social conditions to improve in the global South. Ethnography, as illustrated in the book’s case study – Langa, a township in Cape Town, South Africa – is used to arrive at this conclusion. The authors are thus able to demonstrate how power and conflict between the ambitions of state planners and shack-dwellers, attempting to survive in a resource-poor context, have permeated and shaped all state–society engagement in this planning process. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 1-9 Conflicting Rationalities and Southern Planning Theory (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 11-34 African Cities: Planning Ambitions and Planning Realities (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 35-61 Struggles for Shelter and Survival in Post-apartheid South African Cities: The Case of Langa (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 63-93 Voices from and Within the State (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 95-136 Conflicting Rationalities in the N2 Gateway Project: Voices from Langa (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 137-186 Implications for Southern Planning Theory and Practice (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 187-219 Conclusion (Richard de Satgé, Vanessa Watson)....Pages 221-243 Back Matter ....Pages 245-255