The dilemma of forced evictions in rapidly growing cities: Housing insecurity and the politics of urban transition

Globally, rapid urban growth is reshaping cities. This is a societal transformation which holds promises for economic and sustainable development, but also exposes urban residents to new insecurities. In practice, there is often a stark goal conflict between urban residents’ right to housing, on the one hand, and different interventions and projects connected to urban sustainability (such as improving infrastructure, making cities resilient to floods, and increasing cities’ economic development potential), on the other hand.

For policymakers navigating urban transitions, these dynamics pose a central dilemma and fundamentally constitute a “wicked problem.” Evictions have negative economic and health consequences for those affected, and are frequently accompanied by violent enforcement. Mitigating the negative consequences of urban change is essential for achieving sustainable and equitable development. Navigating this dilemma remains a central challenge for urban planners, political leaders, and broader societies.

Our research aims to advance knowledge on the dilemma of forced evictions in rapidly growing cities by analysing the politics of housing insecurity. We will draw on novel systematic data mapping events of forced evictions across 28 major cities in Africa (2000-2020) to uncover patterns of forced evictions in African cities and establish some of the conditions under which they occur, and also outline a theoretical framework and methodology for systematically studying forced evictions.

The central research problem guiding our research is how the goal conflicts between housing for the urban poor and different forms of physical upgrading are navigated in different urban contexts, and under what conditions the dilemma can be resolved. In particular, we focus on the political dimensions of this dilemma: to what extent collective evictions target politically marginalised groups, and how communities mobilise to resist eviction.