The urban question in Africa: Uneven geographies of transition

Africa is the world\u27s most rapidly urbanizing region. The predominantly rural continent is currently undergoing an urban revolution unlike any other, generally taking place without industrialization and often characterized by polarization, poverty, and fragmentation. While many cities have experienced construction booms and real estate speculation, others are marked by expanding informal economies and imploding infrastructures. The Urban Question in Africa: Uneven Geographies of Transition examines the imbalanced and contested nature of the ongoing urban transition of Africa. Edited and authored by leading experts on the subject, this unique volume develops an original theory conceptualizing cities as sociotechnical systems constituted by production, consumption, and infrastructure regimes. Throughout the book, in-depth chapters address the impacts of current meta-trends-global geopolitical shifts, economic changes, the climate crisis, and others-on Africa\u27s cities and the broader development of the continent. Presents a novel framework based on extensive fieldwork in multiple countries and regions of the continent Examines geopolitical and socioeconomic topics such as manufacturing in African cities, the green economy in Africa, and the impact of China on urban Africa Discusses the prospects for generative urbanism to produce and sustain long-term development in Africa Features high-quality maps, illustrations, and photographs The Urban Question in Africa: Uneven Geographies of Transition is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students in geography, urban planning, and African studies, academic researchers, geographers, urban planners, and policymakers. © 2024 Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) This Work is a co-publication between The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved. Part of the RGS-IBG Book Series