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 -…mehr
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.
Richard de Satgé is director of research at Phuhlisani, a non-profit company. He has 40 years' experience working in NGOs across southern Africa as an educator and researcher with a focus on land, livelihoods, poverty and informality. He holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town. Vanessa Watson is professor of city planning at the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and is a Fellow of this University. She holds degrees, including a PhD, from South African universities and the Architectural Association of London and is on the executive of the African Centre for Cities.
Inhaltsangabe
Chapter 1. Introduction
Introduction to the book
Southern planning theory
Conflicting rationalities
Researching conflicting rationalities in Langa: The method
Understanding the Langa megaproject
Voices from and within the state, voices from and within Langa
Chapter 2. Conflicting Rationalities and Southern Planning Theory
Introducing conflicting rationalities and southern planning theory
The southern turn in global scholarship
The southern turn in planning scholarship
Why a 'Southern theorising project'?
Conflicting rationalities
Concluding on conflicting rationalities and southern planning theory
Chapter 3. African Cities: Planning Ambitions and Planning Realities
Introducing African cities and planning
Planning in the African context: Colonial footprints
Imported national planning legislation
African cities and planning
African urban interpretations
Looking forward - new African urban visions
Concluding on African cities and planning
Chapter 4. Struggles for Shelter and Survival in Post-Apartheid South African Cities: The Case of Langa
Introducing struggles for shelter and survival
South Africa and the negotiated transition to democracy
The development of new housing policy
Breaking New Ground
The N2 Gateway
A brief socio-spatial history of Langa and its place in Cape Town
Concluding on struggles for shelter and survival
Chapter 5. Voices From and Within the State
Introducing voices from and within the state
The N2 Gateway - a story in five episodes
Narratives within the state
Trustees and intermediaries
Concluding on voices from and within the state
Chapter 6. Conflicting Rationalities in the N2 Gateway Project: Voices from Langa
Introducing conflicting rationalities in Langa
Langa residents: borners and migrants
Langa narratives
Concluding on conflicting rationalities in Langa
Chapter 7. Implications for Southern Planning Theory and Practice
Introducing implications for southern planning theory and practice
Interrogating the concept of conflicting rationalities
The multiple voices within the State
The fragmented 'community'
Differentiated contestations over space, place and belonging
Frontiers of deep difference and the hydra of contestations
Concluding on implications for southern planning theory and practice
Chapter 8. Conclusion
Introducing the theoretical propositions
Why do megaprojects so often fail?
Developing planning theory and practice cognisant of divergent rationalities
