INFORMAL HOUSING IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: On Squatting, Culture, and Development in a Latin American and a Middle Eastern Context

Abstract

The basis of this paper is the proposition that the development of squatter communities and informal housing varies throughout developing regions. Squatter developments follow distinct patterns and develop unique characteristics which are affected by regional cultural variables. The paper presents a framework for investigating how different cultural practices affect the nature of squatter development. It first presents a brief overview of prevailing trends of thought regarding the formation of and response to informal housing development. Its principal argument then emerges from a crosscultural comparison of cases of informal development in the Arab Middle East and Latin America. The comparison shows that there is no all-encompassing model for processes of formation and maturation of squatter settlements. For example, while informal developments in the Middle East have a clearly depoliticized and unobtrusive character, in Latin America such settlements are rarely isolated, maintaining ties to either ruling or opposition political parties. Further analysis elaborates on the definition of culture and its importance as a variable. The argument is made that the purely politicaVeconomic circumstances of squatter populations cannot be considered without regard for the cultural contexts in which these are embedded. Finally, the paper critiques the generalized pattern that has emerged to describe the evaluation of informal housing developments in the 'Third World, despite the key mediating role played by culture. It concludes that a culturally grounded approach may broaden the horizons for housing acquisition by the urban poor.

Is there a role for informal settlements in branding cities?

“…Informal settlements make up not only a large portion of Latin American cities, but are also a dynamic part of them in physical, social and cultural terms. Fiori and Brandao (2010, p. 188) argue that “Urban informality is inexorably interwoven with the city as a whole – at all scales and levels – and has to be seen as another way of being in the city and constructing it.” Informal settlements are also seen as innovative and creative: “Today we recognize the innovative genius of the urban poor in taking advantage of the specific cultural opportunities to survive and improve their living conditions” (Alsayyad, 1993, p. 5). In terms of the built environment, they are also a subject of interest:We do not believe “informal” means “lacking form”.…”

HOUSING INFORMALITY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: Insights from a Policy Comparison between Accra and Buenos Aires

“…AlSayyad (1993) was one of the pioneering scholars who made use of comparison in urban studies. His work expands our understanding of the differences between places and triggers our imagination of ‘new geographies of theory’ (Roy, 2009) to consider that the generalized ‘Northern’ theory might not apply to cities beyond the West (Sheppard et al ., 2013; Brenner and Schmid, 2015).…”

“…Existing literature has extensively emphasized these dimensions (AlSayyad, 1993; Nijman, 2007; McFarlane, 2010; Peck, 2015; Lancione and McFarlane, 2016). Our goal is to reveal the different approaches of the case study cities/countries to settlement development and subsequently use this information to explain why specific policies might not succeed in the African context but have, in fact, worked in Latin America, or vice versa.…”

Consolidating Informal Settlements Through Upgrading? The Temporary Implications of In-Situ Electrification from Thembelihle in Johannesburg, South Africa

“…Many thoughtful scholars have been studying informal settlements and urban informality in terms of their various aspects (Abbott, 2002; Alsayyad, 1993; De Soto, 1989; Dovey, 2014; Dovey et al, 2020; Huchzermeyer et al, 2014; Roy, 2005; van Gelder et al, 2016). Nevertheless, as Kim Dovey (2012) has recognised, the challenge of furthering theories to help interpret how informal urbanism works remains to be met.…”