CHAPTER ONE
political nature of urban spaces. Decentralization initiatives designed to empower local governments have often been derailed by the unwillingness of central governments to cede power to lower tiers of government - particularly where these are controlled by opposition parties (see also Box 1.3). Within cities, the proliferation of underserviced informal settlements has led to, and been perpetuated by, the emergence of powerful political and economic entrepreneurs who profit from urban underdevelopment and hence seek to perpetuate the status quo. Poorly governed cities have increasingly also been “colonized” by criminal networks that exploit the services and infrastructure of weakly regulated urban settlements to further their own financial objectives. These local, national and international political-economy dynamics of urban underdevelopment have been further exacerbated by an anti-urban bias in international development discourse and policy, since the late 1970s. Instead of embracing the developmental potential of cities, African governments and international development agencies have focused their efforts primarily on improving rural livelihoods, often with the hope of stemming migration to the cities. These strategies have been largely ineffective. While there is no single blueprint for developmental urban governance, it has become clear in recent decades that existing theories and policy paradigms are not working. New visions and strategies are required that are in tune with contemporary African realities and that reflect the needs and aspirations of African citizens. Realizing these
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visions will require significantly more support from national governments and the international community to build a sound evidence base for urban policy, to ensure that local governments have the skills and resources to manage towns and cities effectively, and to promote inclusive, progressive and productive dialogue among urban stakeholders. There are also likely to be significant roles for the private sector and civil society in successful implementation of sustainable urban development visions. At present, African cities are at risk. But the very concept of risk also implies choice. If African governments and international development agencies change course and recognize the potential of cities to spearhead a productive, inclusive and sustainable development path in the coming decades, Africa will prosper. If not, growing environmental and social strains may exacerbate urban poverty and conflict in the region.
Socio-Economic Conditions and the Spectre of Urban Violence
Socio-economic development fundamentally depends upon successfully managing the conflicts that inevitably arise in societies. Challenges are particularly acute in cities where the needs, interests or grievances of individuals or groups are not always effectively addressed. The spectre of violence looms large and may become a critical obstacle to social and economic progress. Violence destroys valuable
▲ Violence erupted in the Ngor area of Dakar after a power failure during televised transmission of an African Cup of Nations qualifier match between Senegal and Cameroon. Local youth took to the streets to vent their anger. ©Jeff Attaway. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.