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...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
Space distribution is an important aspect of city planning. Its proper conduct would contribute to the creation or distortion of proper accessibility, mobility, and right to the city. Historically,...Show moreSpace distribution is an important aspect of city planning. Its proper conduct would contribute to the creation or distortion of proper accessibility, mobility, and right to the city. Historically, cities have implemented a more profit-based approach to urbanism, creating a car-centric narrative in urban space distribution. However, lately there have been movements of progressive urbanism, which advocate for a future change. More specifically, as cities progress, how can urban planners succeed to redevelop their urban planning methods in order to fit a more human-centric approach on a street level.Show less
As in many large cities, rapid urbanisation in Santiago (Chile) has been accompanied by problems of urban sprawl, inequality, and issues with transportation. Since the late nineties social an...Show moreAs in many large cities, rapid urbanisation in Santiago (Chile) has been accompanied by problems of urban sprawl, inequality, and issues with transportation. Since the late nineties social an increasing amount of social movements have emerged that advocate the bicycle as a healthier, more efficient, and non-polluting transport alternative for that city. This thesis investigates the first of these new social movements, the Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas (MFC), using the concept of the right to the city, introduced by the French sociologist and philosopher Henri Lefebvre, and which has undergone a revival over the last decade as a critical approach to the effects of urbanisation under neoliberalism on societies and their cities. The applicability of Lefebvre’s right to the city as a citizen’s demand for inclusion to their city and a greater control over its space is tested on the MFC in Santiago in the period spanning its emergence in 1994 up to the present year of 2015.The study analyses, firstly, the history, actions, and the organisation of the Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas as a response to problems of Santiago’s urbanisation; secondly, the movement’s success in making such a demand and the obstacles that hinder; and finally, it tests the right to the city’s unifying potential in analyzing the relationship of the MFC to similar New Social Movements.Show less
