Towards a cooperative urbanism? An alternative conceptualization of urban development for Johannesburg’s mining belt

Abstract

This paper explores the multidimensional aspects of inequality that shape urban areas and imagines an alternative future for one such space in Johannesburg, South Africa. It builds on literature from urban studies and planning theory to explore planning practices that politicize inequality, valorize difference and promote the shared management of collective resources. Then, drawing on a decade of qualitative research, the paper imagines how cooperative urbanism could be applied in the factious context of Johannesburg, describing the potential for developing the former mining belt of the Witwatersrand as a series of multi-scalar interventions, networking sites of cooperative action to incrementally address the entrenched inequality of the region. Thus, the paper brings together interdisciplinary conversations on theory with empirical research, discussing concrete ways to continue shifting urban planning and development towards increased environmental and social justice.

A machine learning methodology to quantify the potential of urban densification in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, United Kingdom

“…While our housing capacity results based on relaxing the spatial constraints are valid, their implementation depends on more effective approach for strategic planning. Despite the complexity of 'duty to co-operate' in the UK, there exist successful examples as regards cooperative urban land development in Germany (Koetter et al, 2021) and in South Africa (Howe, 2022). These authors show that cooperative urbanism can provide a sufficient stock of affordable housing to residents and address partly the 5.…”