VIRTUAL London.
Abstract
This study explores the role of public spaces in the development of informally planned urban settlements in the Global South. It centers around the case of Canaan—a spontaneous settlement that emerged on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince (Haiti) after the 2010 earthquake. In contrast to the near complete absence of open public spaces observed in most self-urbanized settlements, early on in its development, Canaan boasted a notable abundance of land earmarked for this purpose. This unusual phenomenon represents a unique opportunity to examine how public spaces contribute to sustainable city-building efforts in contexts where inhabitants are compelled to forge their own living environments. The study explores 30 of Canaan’s public spaces, drawing on semi-directed interviews, focus groups, commented itineraries, and the analysis of media documents and technical reports. Rather than serving as places for socialization and recreation, we find that public spaces in Canaan are instrumentalized by a number of local leaders in a struggle for urban citizenship. These leaders consider these spaces as “guest rooms for the state,” using them as “bait” to secure public facilities, infrastructure, and services, with the ultimate objective of building a complete, decent, and legitimate city. We also find that these same leaders instrumentalize these spaces to gain political capital and establish their leadership, thereby legitimizing their role in carrying out such an urban citizenship project. The results contribute to debates about struggles for urban citizenship led by excluded populations and the “strategies of state engagement” these people mobilize in these attempts.
Concluding a Ph.D. in urbanism at the University of Montreal, Anne-Marie Petter holds a B.Arch and an M.Sc.A. in project management. With 20 years in private practice, she managed diverse projects across Canada, the US, and Haiti, including two major hospitals in Haiti. Driven by a passion for understanding developing countries’ contexts, she now focuses on research. She also coordinates activities for the Fayolle-Magil Construction Chair and contributes to urbanization research in Port-au-Prince, alongside teaching roles in architecture workshops.
Danielle Labbé is professor of urban planning and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Urbanization in the Global South. Her research program focuses on the inter-relations between the production and appropriation of urban space in cities of the Global South. She uses a combination of historical, process-oriented, and social agency perspectives to explore the encounters between state intentions, governing practices, and everyday life during the urbanization process. While primarily focused on Vietnam and Southeast Asia, her research contributes to theoretical debates about state-society relations, urban governance, and regulatory informality in the fields of urban planning, human geography, and urban anthropology.
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Thursday 27th June, 2024