Housing the urban poor in Egypt: A social systems approach

This dissertation focuses on housing policies toward the urban poor in Egypt. The research aims at suggesting more effective approaches to the process of urban development and the roles of different actors in it. The research hypotheses are constructed abductively on both a theoretical framework and an empirical referent. Action themes for planning and development theories include: the need for decentralization, creation of enabling settings, development of self-organizing structures and processes, and the empowerment of people. On the empirical level, the new trend for housing the urban poor calls for: market solutions instead of government intervention, support policies instead of supply ones, enabling community participation, and changing training and education needs. In formulating a hypotheses construct, the research adopts a social systems approach that calls for (1) dealing with the problematique of housing the urban poor as a whole, or as a system, and (2) actively adapting to the contextual turbulent environment. Active adaptation emphasizes: managing conflict over objectives, needs, and priorities; designing social mechanisms for community participation; and enabling social learning to take place. The hypothesis this dissertation is premised on proposes that effective and successful housing policy formulation and implementation for the urban poor will depend on effective local government, as well as community-based organizations that would be responsible for planning, implementing, and managing low-income areas. Consequences of the hypothesis are developed deductively in regard to the process and actor roles. A case study, conducted by the researcher in the summer of 1990, compares two distinct urban demonstration projects at Ismailia and Helwan. The case study concentrates on institutional development, community involvement, and social learning. Conclusions and implications are generated inductively by comparing case study findings to theoretical propositions. Important implications of the research emphasized the need for balanced approaches for institutional development, social learning, and planning for development. Rigid organizational structures, center-periphery learning systems, and top-down planning approaches need to be integrated with flexible networks, inductive learning systems, and bottom-up approaches. There is also a need for radical changes in policy formulation and implementation, as well as in governance and legislation