Policy Press

Urban Environments in Africa

A Critical Analysis of Environmental Politics

By Garth Myers

Published

Feb 24, 2016

Page count

216 pages

ISBN

978-1447322924

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 24, 2016

Page count

216 pages

ISBN

978-1447322917

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 24, 2016

Page count

216 pages

ISBN

978-1447322955

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 24, 2016

Page count

216 pages

ISBN

978-1447322962

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Urban Environments in Africa

Africa’s urban population is growing rapidly, raising numerous environmental concerns. Urban areas are often linked to poverty as well as power and wealth, and hazardous and unhealthy environments as the pace of change stretches local resources. Yet there are a wide range of perspectives and possibilities for political analysis of these rapidly changing environments.

Written by a widely respected author, this important book will mark a major new step forward in the study of Africa’s urban environments. Using innovative research including fieldwork data, map analysis, place-name study, interviewing and fiction, the book explores environmentalism from a variety of perspectives, acknowledging the clash between Western planning mind-sets pursuing the goal of sustainable development, and the lived realities of residents of often poor, informal settlements. The book will be valuable to advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in geography, urban studies, development studies, environmental studies and African studies.

Garth Myers is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Urban International Studies at Trinity College, Hartford, CT. He is director of the urban studies program and a member of the international studies program. He is the author of three other books on urban Africa and co-editor for two other volumes; he has published more than sixty articles and book chapters as well.

Introduction;

The Experts: The ‘State’ of Urban Environments in Africa;

The Past: The Urban Biogeography of (Post)Colonialism;

The Artists: Using African Literature to Read Urban Environments;

The Cityscape: Place-Names, Culture and Spirits;

From the Grass Roots: Popular Understandings of Urban Environmental Issues in Africa;

Conclusion: Re-Reading Urban Environments.