International Aid and Urban Change

This work analyses the presence of humanitarian workers in African cities as a process of urban transformation. Humanitarian presence modifies the built environment and social relations. It results in development of economic activities targeted for expatriates while increasing an already unequal access to housing and privatisation of public space.

The presence of expatriate humanitarian workers in African cities is not neutral. Country capitals receive large and sudden influx of expatriates during humanitarian crises responses. This book examines the influence of this presence on the local urban ecosystem, from the building of a security discourse to the self-segregation of aid agencies in expatriate enclaves. The examples of Abidjan, Bamako, Juba and Nairobi illustrate different variants of urban change induced by the normative power of aid organisations.

Autorentext

Pablo de Roulet is a social scientist and a cartographer. His research focusses on socio-spatial dynamics in the Global South cities. His interest in the geography of aid stems from his experience in field missions for humanitarian organisations.

Inhalt

List of Abbreviations - Introduction - Theory and Method - The Aid Industry: Social Field and Spatial Habitus - Panorama - Landscape of War - The Layer - Transformations - Synthesis - Conclusion - List of Figures - Bibliography .