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.
About the AuthorGarth 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.
Reviews"A tour de force that opens up an entirely new terrain of scholarly research on urban Africa this book fills a variety of huge gaps in the existing literature" Martin Murray University of Michigan
Book InformationISBN 9781447322924
Author Garth MyersFormat Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Policy PressPublisher Bristol University Press