This document discusses the political meaning and implications of informal urbanization. It begins by defining informal urbanization and distinguishing it from traditional urbanization. It then examines how informal urbanization is embedded within modernization processes and the rise of capitalism. Informal urbanization results from the need for cheap labor in countries where the rule of law is deficient and citizens lack civil rights. The document argues that informal settlements should be seen as instruments to achieve the right to the city, by providing hope, access to jobs and services, and affirming people's right to exist in the city. However, it also notes the enormous lack of access to positive rights and public goods in many informal settlements.

1. the political meaning of
informal urbanisation
!"#$%#&'&#((%()
*!$+#$,)-U
URBANISM
!"#$%!&'()"*+(%,!-$
."/0'-#-1,

2. Objectives
•
•
•

3. what’s informal urbanisation?
Favela Paraisopolis in Sao Paulo, Brazil
it is important to separate informal
urbanisation from traditional or
vernacular urbanisation

4. what’s informal urbanisation?
(Traditional village, Ethiopia)

5. what’s informal urbanisation?
(Berber village in Ourika valley, High Atlas, Morocco)

6. what’s informal urbanisation?
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in Lot, France

7. Informality is embedded in
Modernisation Processes
(sometimes associated with
westernisation)

8. Modernisation > Capitalist mode of
production
Modernisation > Raise of technocratic
planning
Modernisation > Democratisation???
see Max Weber's critique of rationalisation to understand how alienation and rationalisation
operate

9. Cities are cultural artefacts and they
embody livelihoods and economies

10. The association of the production
of urban space and capitalism

11. The association of the production
of urban space and capitalism

12. The association of the production
of urban space and capitalism

14. Lefebvre and then Harvey:
The Urbanisation of Capital

15. Las Vegas

16. Las Vegas

17. Fort Myers

18. The Dutch version of
suburbanisation

19. Ypenburg

20. Barendrecht

21. Dubai

22. Hong Kong

23. Pudong

24. Sao Paulo

25. Sao Paulo

26. Houses need to be furnished

27. Houses need to be furnished

28. Houses need to be furnished

29. Infrastructure needs to be
built to connect the suburbs

30. and cars need to be bought

31. Thai 1997 Crisis:
Monuments to Speculators

32. Spanish 2008 Real Estate Bubble:
The Cities that never were

33. United States Subprime Mortgage
Crisis

34. United States Subprime Mortgage Crisis
The Cities that never were

35. The Big Short

36. Chinese Ghost Cities

37. Chinese Ghost CitiesChinese Ghost Cities

38. So what’s the meaning
of informal urbanisation
in the capitalist city?

39. what’s informal urbanisation?
Favela Paraisopolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brazil:
100 million new urban dwellers in the
post-war alone!

40. what’s informal urbanisation?
Favela da Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
complementarity of formal and
informal INSIDE THE SAME LOGIC OF
PRODUCTION OF URBAN SPACE

41. what’s informal urbanisation?
Torre David, Caracas , Venezuela

42. what’s informal urbanisation?
Petare Slum, Caracas Venezuela

43. what’s informal urbanisation?
Slum in Haiti after 2010 earthquake

44. what’s informal urbanisation?
Slum in Jakarta, Indonesia (c. 2000)

45. globalisation

46. globalisation of production
means that countries all over the
word are inserted in production
chains that promote ‘some sort’
of subordinate modernisation

47. subordinate
modernisation
triggers excluding
urbanisation

48. informal urbanisation is not the
result of poverty (only):
it is the result of the need for cheap
labour in countries where the rule of
law is defective and where citizens
do not have access to civil rights

49. Summarising

50. I claim that…
THE RIGHT TO THE
CITY
RIGHT to RIGHTS
RIGHT TO THE CITY
POSITIVE RIGHTS NEGATIVE
RIGHTS

51. PUBLIC GOODS
and coordinated mediation of disputes over scarce
resources (space, accessibility, water, energy)
COLLECTIVE
UNDERTAKINGS POLITICALLY,
INSTITUTIONALLY
PROCEDURALLY
MAIN TOOLS
SPATIAL JUSTICE RIGHT TO THE CITY
where there is scarcity of resources and fierce
competition for them

52. shiftingparadigms:
fromcriminalsto
entrepreneurs

54. • hopehope
• entrepreneurship
• affirmation of the right to BE in
the city
• the possibility to access a much
larger and diversified labour
market
• access to improved health care,
educational opportunities and
cultural opportunities
Slums as instruments to achieve the
right to the city

55. slumshavecometobeseenas...

56. INCREASED LIFE CHANCES

57. Mumbai

58. Civilandpoliticalconsequences
ofillegality

59. subversionoftheruleoflawPinheirinho

60. PinheirinhoPinheirinhoPinheirinho

61. PinheirinhoPinheirinho

62. SaoPauloPoorofficial
responses

63. Mexico

64. Mumbai

65. Mumbai

66. MumbaiHowcanthosecompareto
this?
University of California, Berkeley

67. HOWEVER

68. Slumslack:

69. +-900millionpeopleinslums
(UNHabitat)

70. Kibera,Nairobi

71. Someproblems

72. Aestheticization of poverty

73. Negative X Positive Rights

74. Positive rights

75. Positive rights are deeply connected
to access to public goods

76. Positive rights are deeply connected
to access to public goods

77. Different societal models

78. Different societal models

79. Turn to neoliberalismCaracas

80. Not a new idea

81. Rem Koolhaas in Lagos

82. Brillembourg and Klumpner

83. ENORMOUS
LACK OF
ACCESS TO
positive
rights
Paraisopolis

84. ‘Letthepoortaketheirfutureintheir
ownhands’
PPPs facilitate
the globalisation
of investment in
prime real estate
and the
financialization
of the production
of space (Harvey)
SaoPaulo

85. SaoPaulo

86. SaoPaulo

87. SaoPaulo

88. SaoPaulo

89. TheRighttotheCity

90. theruleoflawisintimatelyconnected
totheconstructionofthecity
CITY > CITIZEN
ONLY WHEN MEN HAD TO LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
AND SHARE LIMITED RESOURCES, THE RULE OF LAW
STARTS TO EMERGE.
THE LAW CREATES A SPACE OF OBLIGATIONS BUT
ALSO OF RIGHTS
THE EMERGENCE OF THE NATION STATE

94. THE RULE OF LAW CAN BE CLEARLYTHE RULE OF LAW CAN BE CLEARLY
TRANSLATED INTO SPATIAL FORMTRANSLATED INTO SPATIAL FORM

95. THE RULE OF LAW CAN BE CLEARLYTHE RULE OF LAW CAN BE CLEARLY
TRANSLATED INTO SPATIAL FORMTRANSLATED INTO SPATIAL FORM

96. Roleofplanning?
material/spatial
support inclusion
access to negative AND positive
rights
public goods

97. PUBLICGOODS

98. Intangibleassetsthatcanbe
enjoyedbyall

99. Intangibleassetsthatcanbe
enjoyedbyall

100. Publicgoodsandcollective
action

101. Thejustcity

102. lackofaccesstopublicgoods
SaoPaul

103. RoleoftheStateandofplanningSaoPaulo

104. Tne European
experience
TheHague

105. TheHagueTheHague

106. Amsterdam

107. Amsterdam

108. Consequencesfortheroleof
governments
(andplanners)

109. Interconnectionspositive
rightsandtherighttothecity

110. basefortheconstitution
of
legitimatedemands

111. Integrationoftherighttothe
citywithurbandevelopment

112. roleofplanning?

113. Insummary

114. Insummary

119. Any
questions?

120. SaoPaulo

121. SaoPaulo

122. ! "!#$
%
&'()'*+,-)
.,-+/
0)-)*+)
123
45$6'*5/
.6-67+8)
9-,*+,/6)3
:53;
<-)/6=)':6)
>6$)5
?)@(5,6A
-6'()
B)':)C+6
?)/)3
D,-:, 1)'7)')
E-,$,$8 ,
E+@+-+F6
0)@)')
D6=)3
B,:,6-5/
D6=)3B)-6)
D6=)3
G+6=(,-$,
?)'*)68)
.,'()
E)7+)H,
?)--)5
<,=,$
B55@)
&*+)3I)/)
D6=)3B)76=:,
D6=)3
95-$5/)
J-$,=6'53
B)7)-)KK5
L7)C+,-)
.5'7,3I)/)
&-7+-3
&=F6$
?6:):,3>6:,-
.)-C+,3:5
?)-$5
05/,3
<5'6M)@65
?6:):,
E6-):,'7,/
G+)6)')/,/
>)N,):5
D6=)3?+-+@)
L7)6$3.)+=6/7)
0)-:6$3
O,=,')
1)53
B6*+,=
D6=)30)@+6
L*+)7,$6
1)53I)M),=
1)53B)7,+/1)H5H5H5H,$8)5H,$8)5H5H5H5H,$8)5H5H5H,$8)
&-6@)':+F)
1)53>+@)/D6=)
.-+:,' 7,
LH6-)'*)
1)@5$)
?+-/6'5
0)8)C+)-)
?6:):,
&:,$)-
.,:-,6-)
?6:):,34 +7-)
G-)N)+
15@5--5
?)$H 53
G-)':,
1)'753&$)-5
.)-,=(,6-5/
B)-/6=)@
0)-:6$3& '*,=)
0)-:6$3
1)53>+6/
?)H)5
I,:5':5
?)$H 53>6$H5
D6=)3&':-):,
D6=)315'6)
B5-+$86I)H5/53E)F)-,/
I653.,C+,'5 <+7)'7)
0)*+)-,
D6=)3
>,5H5=:6')
>)H)
0)-)*+)
&=753:,3
.6'(,6-5/
L7)6$3
<686
B5,$)
?)$H 53
<,=5
1)+:,
D6=)3
B)-6)')
0)-:6$
.)+=6/7)
.6'(,6-5/
.,-:6K,/
<)--)39+':)
?5'/5=)@)5
1)'7)3
?,@6=6)
<,=)3
D6/7)
>68 ,-:):,
?)$8+@6
<-)/
.)-6
<5$3
I,76-5
1,
-,H+8=6@)
%5-P)Q
%5-P)Q
L@,=)':
L@,=)':
&+/7-)=6)
&+/7-)=6)
1RJ4J%
1RJ4J%
%,7(,-=)':/
0)H)'
4,'$)-#
96'=)':
9I)'@,
&+/7-6)
&+/7-6)
%,P3S,)=)':
*,-$)'Q
/H)6'
/H)6'
O5'*3#5'*
O5'*3#5'*
/6'*)H5-,
/6'*)H5-,
/=5F,'6)
/2T5-,)
#Q-*QK7)'
45$6'6@)'3I,H2
123T5-,)
12T;-,)
?QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
?K,@(
I,H2
B)=7)
B&>E&
B&>E&
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
H5=)':
H5=)':
@(6=,
@(6=,
,/75'6)
/=5F)#6)
C)7)-
8)(-)6'
8)(-)6'
@-5)76)
@QH-+/
+-+*+)Q
=)7F6)
/73#677/
8)()$)/
8)()$)/
8)()$)/
/,Q@(,==,/
/,Q@(,==,/
@+8)
@+8)
@+8)
$,U6@5
8+=*)-6)
.)')$)
.)')$)
=Q86)
=Q86)
=Q86)
B)=)Q/6)
B)=)Q/6)
I+//6)
$)+-676+/
85/'6)
5$)'
&=8)'6)
7()6=)':
F,',K+,=)
/)+:63)-)86)
+#-)6',
+#-)6',
+#-)6',
+#-)6',
H,-+
#)K)#(/7)'
45$6'6@)'3
-,H+8=6@
?(6')
/-63=)'#)
/-63=)'#)
7+-#,Q
8+=*)-6)
1#Q3(6*(V31RJ4J%
D,-Q3(6*(V31H)6'
3(6*(V3?K,@(3-,H+8=6@
3$5:,-)7,=Q3(6*(V3$,U6@5
B,:6+$V37()6=)':
B,:6+$3753=5PV3#Q-*Q/7)'
O4L3O+$)'3:,F,=5H$,'736':,U3W"!!XW
@67Q35M3/)53H)+=53:6/7-6@7/3@5$H)-,:
:)7)3/5+-@,V3.B1.3)':3L<GJY.%Z43"!!X
7(,-,3)-,3'53:6/7-6@7/37()73/@5-,3=,//37()'3!2X[37(,-,M5-,3'53:6/7-6@73P67(3=5P3O4L
7(,3=5P,/73O4L36':,U38,=5'*/3753$)-/6=)@3W!2X!
SaoPaulo

123. &'()'*+,-)
0)-)*+)
123
45$6'*5/
.6-67+8)
9-,*+,/6)3
:53;
<-)/6=)':6)
>6$)5
?)@(5,6A
-6'()
B)':)C+6
?)/)3
D,-:, 1)'7)')
E-,$,$8 ,
E+@+-+F6
0)@)')
D6=)3
B,:,6-5/
D6=)3B)-6)
D6=)3
G+6=(,-$,
?)'*)68)
.,'()
E)7+)H,
?)--)5
<,=,$
B55@)
&*+)3I)/)
D6=)3B)76=:,
D6=)3
95-$5/)
J-$,=6'53
B)7)-)KK5
L7)C+,-)
.5'7,3I)/)
&-7+-3
&=F6$
?6:):,3>6:,-
.)-C+,3:5
?)-$5
05/,3
<5'6M)@65
?6:):,
E6-):,'7,/
G+)6)')/,/
>)N,):5
D6=)3?+-+@)
L7)6$3.)+=6/7)
0)-:6$3
O,=,')
1)53
B6*+,=
D6=)30)@+6
L*+)7,$6
1)53I)M),=
1)53B)7,+/1)H5H5H5H,$8)5H,$8)5H5H5H5H,$8)5H5H5H,$8)
&-6@)':+F)
1)53>+@)/D6=)
.-+:,' 7,
LH6-)'*)
1)@5$)
?+-/6'5
0)8)C+)-)
?6:):,
&:,$)-
.,:-,6-)
?6:):,34 +7-)
15@5--5
?)$H 53
G-)':,
1)'753&$)-5
0)-:6$3& '*,=)
0)-:6$3
1)53>+6/
?)H)5
I,:5':5
?)$H 53>6$H5
D6=)3&':-):,
D6=)315'6)
B5-+$86I)H5/53E)F)-,/
I653.,C+,'5 <+7)'7)
0)*+)-,
D6=)3
>,5H5=:6')
>)H)
0)-)*+)
&=753:,3
.6'(,6-5/
L7)6$3
<686
B5,$)
?)$H 53
<,=5
1)+:,
D6=)3
B)-6)')
0)-:6$
.)+=6/7)
.6'(,6-5/
.,-:6K,/
<)--)39+':)
?5'/5=)@)5
1)'7)3
?,@6=6)
<,=)3
D6/7)
>68 ,-:):,
?)$8+@6
<-)/
.)-6
<5$3
I,76-5
1,
-,H+8=6@)
%5-P)Q
%5-P)Q
L@,=)':
L@,=)':
&+/7-)=6)
&+/7-)=6)
1RJ4J%
1RJ4J%
%,7(,-=)':/
0)H)'
4,'$)-#
96'=)':
9I)'@,
&+/7-6)
&+/7-6)
%,P3S,)=)':
*,-$)'Q
/H)6'
/H)6'
O5'*3#5'*
O5'*3#5'*
/6'*)H5-,
/6'*)H5-,
/=5F,'6)
/2T5-,)
45$6'6@)'3I,H2
123T5-,)
12T;-,)
?QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
@QH-+/
?K,@(
I,H2
B)=7)
B&>E&
B&>E&
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
&-*,'76')
H5=)':
H5=)':
@(6=,
@(6=,
,/75'6)
/=5F)#6)
C)7)-
8)(-)6'
8)(-)6'
@-5)76)
@QH-+/
+-+*+)Q
=)7F6)
/73#677/
8)()$)/
8)()$)/
/,Q@(,==,/
/,Q@(,==,/
@+8)
@+8)
@+8)
$,U6@5
8+=*)-6)
.)')$)
.)')$)
=Q86)
=Q86)
=Q86)
B)=)Q/6)
B)=)Q/6)
I+//6)
$)+-676+/
85/'6)
5$)'
&=8)'6)
7()6=)':
F,',K+,=) +#-)6',
+#-)6',
+#-)6',
+#-)6',
H,-+
#)K)#(/7)'
/-63=)'#)
/-63=)'#)
7+-#,Q
8+=*)-6)
1#Q3(6*(V31RJ4J%
D,-Q3(6*(V31H)6'
3(6*(V3?K,@(3-,H+8=6@
1#Q3(6*(V31RJ4J%
3(6*(V3?K,@(3-,H+8=6@
SaoPauloSaoPauloSaoPaulo
&
SaoPaulo
&'()'*+,-
SaoPaulo
'()'*+,-&'()'*+,-&
SaoPaulo
&'()'*+,-&
F,',K+,=)
SaoPaulo
F,',K+,=)
SaoPaulo

124. 22.5%middleorhighvulnerability(2.5millionpeople)SaoPaulo

125. SaoPaulo
votedistribution
mayoralelections2012

126. SaoPaulo
ethnicdistribution

127. SaoPaulo

128. SaoPaulo

129. favelaSaoPaulo

130. favela:
initialstages
SaoPaulo

131. favela:
‘consolidated’
SaoPaulo

132. Ocupacao
clandestina
SaoPaulo

133. Ocupação
clandestina
SaoPaulo

134. Loteamento
irregular
SaoPaulo

135. Occupationaspolitical
action

136. SaoPaulo

137. Civilandpoliticalconsequences
ofillegality

138. subversionoftheruleoflawPinheirinho

139. PinheirinhoPinheirinhoPinheirinhoIfhousingisapriviledge,thenoccupyingisa
right.

140. Pinheirinho

141. PinheirinhoPinheirinhoPinheirinho

142. PinheirinhoPinheirinho

143. Pinheirinho

144. Buthowdidwegetthere?
1964196419641964

145. Militaryrule

146. Militaryrule

147. Militaryrule

148. S.Paulo:ExplosiveGrowth

149. Massruralmigration

150. ABC
strikes

151. Social
movements

152. Christian(catholic)Base
Communities

153. DiretasJa
DirectElections

154. 1988
Constitution

159. StatuteoftheCity(2001):
37X‘righttothecity’

160. SaoPaulo CDHULapa

161. SaoPauloMutirao:
SelfHelp

162. SaoPaulo
Mutirao

163. SaoPaulo
Mutirao
“the medicine against
corruption: self-help and
self-management”

164. Loteamento
irregular
SaoPaulo
ProjetoCingapura

165. SaoPaulo
ProjetoCingapura

166. UnifiedEducationalCentres
CEUCEUCEU

167. LocationofCEUSinSaoPaulo

168. CEUCEUCEU

169. CEUCEUCEU

170. CEU

171. invasionsinvasions

172. invasionsinvasions

173. recently
Paraisopolis

174. recently
ParaisopolisParaisopolisParaisopolis

175. recently
Heliopolis

176. f
recently
Heliopolis

177. recentlyrecentlyrecently

178. JardimPantanal
recently

179. recently
ParquedoGatodoGato

180. FaveladoMoinho

181. Pinheirinho

182. Estaiadinha2013

183. basefortheconstitution
of
legitimatedemands

184. Integrationoftherighttothe
citywithurbandevelopment

185. roleofplanning?

186. Insummary

187. Insummary

191. Any
questions?