Cities in the Global South: A Reader's Guide to Understanding Urbanization and Colonialism

The concept of cities in the global south has long been shrouded in assumptions about colonial urbanization and its impact on urban development. However, a closer examination of this topic reveals a complex web of relationships between colonial powers, local populations, and urban infrastructure. Sheetal Chhabria's work challenges these assumptions by providing a fresh analytical approach to understanding the history of cities in the global south.

One of the most significant contributions of Chhabria's research is her identification of the 'slum problem' as a key category in the urbanization process. By tracing the origins of this concept back to the early twentieth century, she shows how it was used to stigmatize certain areas and populations, leading to the exclusion of laborers and migrants from the city.

Chhabria's analysis highlights the role of colonial powers and local elites in shaping the development of cities in the global south. She notes that town planners, financiers, and property developers collaborated to create a city that was conducive to commerce and industry, while encoding certain types of shelter as legitimate or illegitimate. This led to the creation of a distinct urban space that was designed to exclude those who were deemed 'illegitimate' by colonial authorities.

The author also examines the impact of moments of crisis on urban development in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai). She argues that these crises, such as famine and plague, served to justify interventions that limited access to the city and excluded certain groups from it. Despite these exclusions, Chhabria suggests that these crises ultimately served to secure the flow of capital into the city.

Overall, Chhabria's work provides a nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between colonial powers, local populations, and urban infrastructure in cities of the global south. Her analysis challenges assumptions about the nature of urbanization and highlights the need for a more critical approach to understanding the history of cities in these regions.

As readers delve into this subject, they will gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which colonialism and capitalism have shaped urban development in cities of the global south. Chhabria's work offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of this complex topic and provides a framework for further research and analysis.

Cities in the global south reader