The Struggle for Urban Space in Egypt:: Al-Sisi’s Aggressive Approach to Informal Development

In Egypt, the eradication of informal housing is a cornerstone of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s urban development agenda. While prevailing state narratives portray the demolition and relocation of informal settlements as positive advancements, a critical examination of the broader political and economic dynamics driving urban development policies challenge these portrayals. Characterisations of informal communities as hotbeds for criminality and extremism serve the dual purpose of rationalising their destruction while bolstering al-Sisi’s image as a hero in the ‘war on terror,’ a strategy central to fortifying his disputed legitimacy. The removal of informal settlements in strategic locations allows the government to capitalise on the newly vacated land and attract investment capital to remedy adverse effects of the mismanaged economy. Additionally, the military, deeply entrenched in the economy, stands to benefit from these development strategies and the neoliberal authoritarian...Show moreIn Egypt, the eradication of informal housing is a cornerstone of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s urban development agenda. While prevailing state narratives portray the demolition and relocation of informal settlements as positive advancements, a critical examination of the broader political and economic dynamics driving urban development policies challenge these portrayals. Characterisations of informal communities as hotbeds for criminality and extremism serve the dual purpose of rationalising their destruction while bolstering al-Sisi’s image as a hero in the ‘war on terror,’ a strategy central to fortifying his disputed legitimacy. The removal of informal settlements in strategic locations allows the government to capitalise on the newly vacated land and attract investment capital to remedy adverse effects of the mismanaged economy. Additionally, the military, deeply entrenched in the economy, stands to benefit from these development strategies and the neoliberal authoritarian governance enforcing them. The ongoing conversion of the agricultural island of al-Warraq into upscale ‘Horus Island’ is taken as a case study to exemplify these patterns, foregrounding the voice and agency of affected residents while employing Henri Lefevbre’s concept of a “right to the city” and Asef Bayat’s notion of a “quiet encroachment of the ordinary.” A critical examination of the political, economic, and social consequences of al-Sisi’s urban development approach underscores the need for an ongoing re-appraisal of informal development by Egyptian policymakers, within academia, and policy recommendations by international organisations.Show less

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The Struggle for Urban Space in Egypt: Al-Sisi’s Aggressive Approach to Informal Development