Speaker
Description
Urban planning reveals a growing gap between current approaches and the pressing challenges of informal settlements. This gap underscores the inadequacy of dominant approaches to address the complex realities of urban life. This article argues that implicit biases and assumptions in the typical perception of "informal settlements" often portray them as "other" and outside of 'normal' urban issues. The dichotomous notion of informal/undeveloped versus formal/developed areas, shaped by Eurocentric planning assumptions, perpetuates stereotypes and often fails to reflect the lived experiences and contexts of cities in the Global South.
The influence of labels, classifications, underlying assumptions, and imagery that perpetuate Eurocentric norms and values shape how we perceive urban informal settlements.
This article aims to move away from such stigmatized terms, which are often social constructs detached from physical realities and used to discredit marginalized communities. Applying a critical perspective from the Global South can be useful in unsettling taken-for-granted assumptions about how planning addresses the issues of informal settlements. Therefore, it calls for a paradigm shift and a decolonized perspective on informal settlements, in line with post-development discourses and demands for a more inclusive 'Southern urban theory.' By shifting the perspective, policymakers, researchers, and urban planners can develop inclusive strategies that address the needs of marginalized communities without stigmatization, while promoting a deeper understanding of urban diversity and enabling contextually grounded, equitable solutions.
The methodology of this article is based on a systematic literature review of articles published between 2010 and 2024 in scientific journals, with a focus on breaking free from Eurocentric perceptions.
The articles selected call for a shift in perspective on studying informal settlements in the Global South and advocate for a radical rethinking of how we conceptualize these settlements. They urge us to unsettle the concept of 'otherness,' deconstruct implicit assumptions, and challenge the simplistic, value-laden categories that have historically shaped our understanding. This rethinking is a way to challenge the power of entrenched labels, stereotypes, and biases.
Based on the findings from the literature review, this article proposes new approaches for developing a research agenda that is neutral, evidence-based, and focused on critical comparative analysis, offering ways to better understand and analyze informal settlements. The suggested agenda promotes equity, inclusivity, and context-specific solutions rooted in the values, assumptions, empirical realities, and lived experiences of inhabitants of informal settlements.
The proposed research agenda involves a new territorial ethics that aims to demystify urban spaces labeled as 'informal settlements' in order to uncover their real socio-economic and physical dynamics. It also emphasizes recognizing the inhabitants of informal settlements as integral to the urban fabric, rather than as separate or problematic entities. This research agenda focuses on commonalities rather than emphasizing differences or deviations from a Western ideal, and encourages an empirical, grounded approach free from preconceived notions of hierarchy or deficiency. In conclusion, this article argues that the potential of urban planning depends on comprehending informal settlements through the varied perspectives and rationalities of their inhabitants.
| Keywords | informal settlements, Eurocentric perceptions, decolonized perspective, Southern Urban Theory |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
