 Cover of book | |
| Author | Robert Neuwirth |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Squatting,informal settlements |
| Published | 2004 |
| ISBN | 9780415953610 |
Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, A New Urban World is a 2004 book byRobert Neuwirth. He wrote it after visitinginformal settlements such asDharavi,Kibera andRocinha.
US-based journalistRobert Neuwirth spent two years visiting ininformal settlements across the globe, includingKibera (aslum inNairobi,Kenya),Rocinha (afavela inRio de Janeiro, Brazil), agecekondu bölgesi zone inSultanbeyli,Istanbul, Turkey andDharavi and Sanjay Gandhi Nagar (twosquatted areas inMumbai, India).[1] In the book Neuwirth draws on his experiences to argue that much can be learnt from the self-organization and adaptability of squatters worldwide.[2] He also gives a partial history of slums in such places as London, New York and Paris, suggesting that informal settlements are an integral part of urbanization and concluding on an optimistic note that there are so many squatters that their needs cannot be ignored.[3]
Reviewers welcomed the book as a general overview whilst pointing out defects for the specialist reader. Writing inForum Qualitative Social Research, Brian Christens said the book was "rich with insights" whilst also criticising Neuwirth's methodology.[2] David Satterthwaite reviewed the book twice. InEnvironment & Urbanization he takes exception to Neuwirth's dismissal of theNational Slum Dwellers Federation in Mumbai as "'feel-good' organizing", arguing that the federation, allied with groups such asSPARC andMahila Milan, provides a concrete means for slum dwellers to better their conditions.[4] InInternational Journal of Urban and Regional Research, he criticises Neuwirth for writing about specific places whilst ignoring the extensive research already carried out on them; he also praises how the book "captures the vibrancy evident in many squatter settlements".[5] InHarvard Design Magazine, John Beardsley commented what the "book lacks in trenchant social analysis or substantive policy understanding it more than makes up for in a close reading of what life is like in four settlements around the world".[6]
