Jo Beall
Biographic Data
| ID | 295544 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jo Beall |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jo |
| FAMILY NAME | Beall |
| SIGNATURE | BEALL J |
| AFFILIATIONS | London School of Economics and Political Science |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1898-3872 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 48 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 255 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 47 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1989 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 8 |
Development: Urbanization, conflict, and the future: Jo Beall LSE Cities, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
The ODS-sponsored opening plenary of the Development Studies Association Conference, 2022, focused on the challenges of sustainability in a world that is increasingly urbanized. Chaired by Christop
Infrastructure governance in the post-networked city: State-led, high-tech sanitation in Addis Ababa’s condominium housing
Ethiopia’s mass-scale subsidized housing delivery programme has driven the rapid expansion of middle-income, mid-rise settlements on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, requiring the provision of infrastructure to newly developed areas. In the case of the Kotari housing project, established sanitation systems were deemed inappropriate for the site, resulting in the deployment of novel technology, a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). Such decentralised technolo…
Elite Compacts in Africa: The Role of Area-based Management in the New Governmentality of the Durban City-region
Through reflection on the practical post-apartheid (re)alignment of competing rationalities across the Greater Durban urban region, this essay teases out the interface between traditional and modern settlement management systems, and explores how governance cleavages are being renegotiated and mediated. It is suggested that, in building an integrated method of operating across the fragmented city-regional scale and navigating the competing intere…
Conflict and post-war transition in African cities
Re-thinking the Latin American City
Emerging Johannesburg
When Meadowlands, a township in Greater Soweto, was first estab-lished during the 1950s, the population was fairly homogeneous. As a result of the sustained economic upswing during the 1960s, a number, but not all, township residents experienced upward occupational mobility. Social differentiation increased even further over the 1980s and early 1990s. Some residents benefited from the drive toward encouraging homeownership, whereas many others si…
Cities and Conflict in Fragile States in the Developing World
The articles presented in this Special Issue draw on five years of research by the Cities and Fragile States programme of the Crisis States Research Centre, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), was an exploratory ‘blue skies’ endeavour that set out to examine the relationship between cities, states and conflict in conflict-affected parts of…
Latin American Urban Development into the Twenty First Century: Towards a Renewed Perspective on the City
By the dawn of the 21st century, more than half of the world's population was living in urban areas. This volume explores the implications of this unprecedented expansion in the world's most urbanized
Latin American Urban Development into the Twenty-first Century: Towards a Renewed Perspective on the City
Urbanization and Development
By many estimates, the world has just crossed the point where more than half the global population is urban, a trend driven by rapid urbanization in developing countries. Urban centres offer economies of scale in terms of productive enterprise and public investment. Cities are social melting pots, centres of innovation, and drivers of social change. However, cities are also marked by social differentiation, poverty, conflict, and environmental de…
Urbanization and development: Multidisciplinary Perspectives
By many estimates, the world has recently crossed the point where more than half the global population is urban, a trend driven by rapid urbanization in developing countries. Urban centres offer economies of scale in terms of productive enterprise and public investment. Cities are social melting pots, centres of innovation, and drivers of social change. However, cities are also marked by social differentiation, poverty, conflict, and environmenta…
Introduction: African Development in an Urban World: Beyond the Tipping Point
Cultural Weapons: Traditions, Inventions and the Transition to Democratic Governance in Metropolitan Durban
Traditional leaders have a formal role in South Africa's post- apartheid local government and, in some cities in the country-notably in KwaZulu-Natal-their presence has presented some important political challenges. This paper explores the relationship between longstanding institutional arrangements which support chiefdoms and traditional authority control over land and development, and the emerging democratic local government in the municipality…
Dealing with Dirt and the Disorder of Development: Managing Rubbish in Urban Pakistan
This article unveils the different ‘thought worlds’ that inform urban development policy and the reality of urban service delivery in Faisalabad, Pakistan’s third largest city. Focusing on changing patterns of residential waste removal and based on ethnographic work among minority Christian street sweepers, the ‘little sub-worlds’ involved in domestic rubbish collection are explored, showing how these articulate with larger ‘thought worlds’ about…
Fragile Stability: State and Society in Democratic South Africa
This article adopts a 'state-in-society' approach in order to take account of the impact of the transition to democracy in South Africa on social groups and their engagement with the state. The article suggests that democratic consolidation involves not only building a new state but also new interfaces between state and society. We use the term 'fragile stability' to characterise the contradictory nature of South Africa's transition a decade afte…
Emergent Democracy and 'Resurgent' Tradition: Institutions, Chieftaincy and Transition in KwaZulu-Natal
This article explores chieftaincy in democratic South Africa and particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where traditional leadership is vocal and politically embedded. Informed by institutional theories, we argue that tradition is more persistent than ‘resurgent’ and that the relationship between ubukhosi (chieftaincy) and wider governance structures in the province and South Africa must be seen as part of a much longer history that exhibits both continu…
Decentralizing Government and Decentering Gender: Lessons from Local Government Reform in South Africa
Localization and decentralization are frequently presented as good for women. However, the reality is not so clear cut. Local government is the tier that is closest to people, but relationships, structures, and processes of local governance can limit both the space for women's participation and the policy potential for addressing gender issues. The experience of democratic reform in South Africa is invariably held up as an example of good practic…
Navigating tradition: Traditional authorities and governance in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
Strains on democratic governance in many parts of Africa have led to a resurgence of traditional authority. In South Africa, democratisation has been accompanied by moves to guarantee a role in governance development for traditional leaders, especially at the local level. Most often associated with the administration of rural areas and small towns, traditional authorities are only occasionally part of metropolitan governance. An exception (and th…
Headlines and Head-space: Challenging Gender Planning Orthodoxy in Area-based Urban Development
Gender and integrated area development projects: Lessons from Cato Manor, Durban
The paper examines whether integrated area development projects are particularly well placed to recognize the complexity and diversity of gender relations and provide important space for gender sensitive planning and practice. It recounts the case of the Cato Manor project in Durban, South Africa, where, despite no explicit focus on gender in design, practices were remarkably consistent with the prescriptions of the urban gender planning literatu…
Uniting a Divided City: Governance and Social Exclusion in Johannesburg
Uniting a Divided City; Governance and Social Exclusion in Johannesburg
Part 1: Ways of Understanding Divided Cities - Introduction to a Divided City * Reverberations from a Divided City * Part 2: The Changing Spatial Structure of the City - Beyond Racial Fordism: Changing Patterns of Social Inequality * Post-Fordist Polarization: The Changing Spatial Order of the City * Part 3: Institutional Responses to Urban Change - Decentralization by Stealth: Democratization or Disempowerment through Developmental Local Governm…
Globalization and social exclusion in cities: Framing the debate with lessons from Africa and Asia
This paper considers the contradictory roles demanded of city governments as they seek to keep their cities competitive in an increasingly globalized world economy while also having increasing responsibilities for addressing social problems, and making local economic development less exclusionary. After reviewing debates on globalization, social exclusion and their interconnections, the paper discusses the impact of globalization on the sweepers …
Globalization and social exclusion in cities: Framing the debate with lessons from Africa and Asia
This paper considers the contradictory roles demanded of city governments as they seek to keep their cities competitive in an increasingly globalized world economy while also having increasing responsibilities for addressing social problems, and making local economic development less exclusionary. After reviewing debates on globalization, social exclusion and their interconnections, the paper discusses the impact of globalization on the sweepers …
Doing Gender from Top to Bottom? The South African Case
By taking gender seriously, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa appeared to reverse the trend set by many liberation movements elsewhere: namely, women being mobilized as agents in struggles around class and race, yet denied the imperative of addressing gender subordination. Shortly after coming to power, the ANC adopted a national strategy for advancing gender equality. By doing so it demonstrated that it could rise …
Cities and Conflict in Fragile States in the Developing World
The articles presented in this Special Issue draw on five years of research by the Cities and Fragile States programme of the Crisis States Research Centre, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), was an exploratory ‘blue skies’ endeavour that set out to examine the relationship between cities, states and conflict in conflict-affected parts of…
Uniting a Divided City; Governance and Social Exclusion in Johannesburg
Part 1: Ways of Understanding Divided Cities - Introduction to a Divided City * Reverberations from a Divided City * Part 2: The Changing Spatial Structure of the City - Beyond Racial Fordism: Changing Patterns of Social Inequality * Post-Fordist Polarization: The Changing Spatial Order of the City * Part 3: Institutional Responses to Urban Change - Decentralization by Stealth: Democratization or Disempowerment through Developmental Local Governm…
Decentralizing Government and Decentering Gender: Lessons from Local Government Reform in South Africa
Localization and decentralization are frequently presented as good for women. However, the reality is not so clear cut. Local government is the tier that is closest to people, but relationships, structures, and processes of local governance can limit both the space for women's participation and the policy potential for addressing gender issues. The experience of democratic reform in South Africa is invariably held up as an example of good practic…
Emergent Democracy and 'Resurgent' Tradition: Institutions, Chieftaincy and Transition in KwaZulu-Natal
This article explores chieftaincy in democratic South Africa and particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where traditional leadership is vocal and politically embedded. Informed by institutional theories, we argue that tradition is more persistent than ‘resurgent’ and that the relationship between ubukhosi (chieftaincy) and wider governance structures in the province and South Africa must be seen as part of a much longer history that exhibits both continu…
Globalization and social exclusion in cities: Framing the debate with lessons from Africa and Asia
This paper considers the contradictory roles demanded of city governments as they seek to keep their cities competitive in an increasingly globalized world economy while also having increasing responsibilities for addressing social problems, and making local economic development less exclusionary. After reviewing debates on globalization, social exclusion and their interconnections, the paper discusses the impact of globalization on the sweepers …
Dealing with Dirt and the Disorder of Development: Managing Rubbish in Urban Pakistan
This article unveils the different ‘thought worlds’ that inform urban development policy and the reality of urban service delivery in Faisalabad, Pakistan’s third largest city. Focusing on changing patterns of residential waste removal and based on ethnographic work among minority Christian street sweepers, the ‘little sub-worlds’ involved in domestic rubbish collection are explored, showing how these articulate with larger ‘thought worlds’ about…
Latin American Urban Development into the Twenty-first Century: Towards a Renewed Perspective on the City
Local government, poverty reduction and inequality in Johannesburg
This paper discusses the difficulties facing the post-apartheid metropolitan government of Johannesburg as it reforms itself, seeking to better respond to the needs of all its citizens, while also attracting new investment. These difficulties include high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality as well as the apartheid legacy of “separate development” with its large backlog of poor quality housing and inadequate basic services, much of it …
Infrastructure governance in the post-networked city: State-led, high-tech sanitation in Addis Ababa’s condominium housing
Ethiopia’s mass-scale subsidized housing delivery programme has driven the rapid expansion of middle-income, mid-rise settlements on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, requiring the provision of infrastructure to newly developed areas. In the case of the Kotari housing project, established sanitation systems were deemed inappropriate for the site, resulting in the deployment of novel technology, a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). Such decentralised technolo…
Elite Compacts in Africa: The Role of Area-based Management in the New Governmentality of the Durban City-region
Through reflection on the practical post-apartheid (re)alignment of competing rationalities across the Greater Durban urban region, this essay teases out the interface between traditional and modern settlement management systems, and explores how governance cleavages are being renegotiated and mediated. It is suggested that, in building an integrated method of operating across the fragmented city-regional scale and navigating the competing intere…
Emerging Johannesburg
When Meadowlands, a township in Greater Soweto, was first estab-lished during the 1950s, the population was fairly homogeneous. As a result of the sustained economic upswing during the 1960s, a number, but not all, township residents experienced upward occupational mobility. Social differentiation increased even further over the 1980s and early 1990s. Some residents benefited from the drive toward encouraging homeownership, whereas many others si…
Thoughts on Poverty from a South Asian Rubbish Dump: Gender, Inequality and Household Waste
Summaries The author reflects on the interlocking circuits of accumulation and consumption that characterise the management of household solid waste or garbage in two South Asian cities. She examines the multiple axes of inequality and interdependence that characterise the social relations of residential waste work. Interactions are explored among household members, and between them and paid waste workers such as domestic workers, sweepers and pi…
Cultural Weapons: Traditions, Inventions and the Transition to Democratic Governance in Metropolitan Durban
Traditional leaders have a formal role in South Africa's post- apartheid local government and, in some cities in the country-notably in KwaZulu-Natal-their presence has presented some important political challenges. This paper explores the relationship between longstanding institutional arrangements which support chiefdoms and traditional authority control over land and development, and the emerging democratic local government in the municipality…
Fragile Stability: State and Society in Democratic South Africa
This article adopts a 'state-in-society' approach in order to take account of the impact of the transition to democracy in South Africa on social groups and their engagement with the state. The article suggests that democratic consolidation involves not only building a new state but also new interfaces between state and society. We use the term 'fragile stability' to characterise the contradictory nature of South Africa's transition a decade afte…
Gender and integrated area development projects: Lessons from Cato Manor, Durban
The paper examines whether integrated area development projects are particularly well placed to recognize the complexity and diversity of gender relations and provide important space for gender sensitive planning and practice. It recounts the case of the Cato Manor project in Durban, South Africa, where, despite no explicit focus on gender in design, practices were remarkably consistent with the prescriptions of the urban gender planning literatu…
A City for All: Valuing Difference and Working with Diversity
Social security and social networks among the urban poor in Pakistan
A Bit on the Side: Gender Struggles in the Politics of Transformation in South Africa
engaged in a creative dialogue to formulate policies to effect the transition to a 'post-apartheid' state and to adopt forms of organization and strategy consistent with and complementary to such policy. Until recently, however, a consideration of gender has been lacking in this exciting debate.' This is not simply the result of a dominant androcentric discourse, but must also be attributed to gaps and shortcomings in the analysis of women's oppr…
Victims, Villains and Fixers: The Urban Environment and Johannesburg's Poor
Urban water supply, sanitation and electricity have been identified as basic needs by the post-apartheid government and the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (GJMC).This article explores the relationship of Johannesburg's poor to the urban environment and in particular these three key urban services.On the basis of survey data, case studies, textual analysis and in-depth interviews with policy makers and planners, it reviews how poorer ci…
Trickle‐down or Rising Tide? Lessons on Mainstreaming Gender Policy from Colombia and South Africa
As a result of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976–1985) many member states of the United Nations in the South put in place some form of national machinery for the advancement of women. This paper considers that process, identifying three main phases. The first was heavily overlaid by the agendas of international development agencies and coincided with efforts to advance a "women in development" or WID agenda within international developmen…
Participation in the city: Where do women fit in
Women's priorities have often been ignored in the design of human settlements, the location of housing, and the provision of urban services. New forms of urban partnership are needed to develop participatory processes which include women and men at all stages of urban development. Participation is most commonly associated with political participation or activity. The author gives an overview of the "gendered city", then looks at how men and women…
Introduction: Urban change and urban studies in Southern Africa
(1995). Introduction: urban change and urban studies in Southern Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies: Vol. 21, Urban studies and urban change in Southern Africa, pp. 3-17
Doing Gender from Top to Bottom? The South African Case
By taking gender seriously, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa appeared to reverse the trend set by many liberation movements elsewhere: namely, women being mobilized as agents in struggles around class and race, yet denied the imperative of addressing gender subordination. Shortly after coming to power, the ANC adopted a national strategy for advancing gender equality. By doing so it demonstrated that it could rise …
The Causes of Unemployment in Post‐apartheid Johannesburg and the Livelihood Strategies of the Poor
Central to the increase in urban poverty in the post‐apartheid period is the rise in unemployment. This provides the point of departure for this paper. The first section shows how Johannesburg and its environs, although constituting the industrial and commercial heartland of South Africa, is a city that has not reached its potential economic development. Having outlined the causes and dimensions of this sluggish economic position, next is conside…
Navigating tradition: Traditional authorities and governance in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
Strains on democratic governance in many parts of Africa have led to a resurgence of traditional authority. In South Africa, democratisation has been accompanied by moves to guarantee a role in governance development for traditional leaders, especially at the local level. Most often associated with the administration of rural areas and small towns, traditional authorities are only occasionally part of metropolitan governance. An exception (and th…
Nawal El Saadawi
A Bit on the Side: Gender Struggles in the Politics of Transformation in South Africa
engaged in a creative dialogue to formulate policies to effect the transition to a 'post-apartheid' state and to adopt forms of organization and strategy consistent with and complementary to such policy. Until recently, however, a consideration of gender has been lacking in this exciting debate.' This is not simply the result of a dominant androcentric discourse, but must also be attributed to gaps and shortcomings in the analysis of women's oppr…
And Still They Dance
Letter from London
Letter from London
Letter from London
Letter from London
Letter from London
Letter from London
Reversed Realities: Gender Hierarchies in Development Thought
Reviewed by Jo Beall, a lecturer in social policy and planning in developing countries, London School of Economics and Political Studies, University of London
Social security and social networks among the urban poor in Pakistan
Introduction: Urban change and urban studies in Southern Africa
(1995). Introduction: urban change and urban studies in Southern Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies: Vol. 21, Urban studies and urban change in Southern Africa, pp. 3-17
Building a city for all: Notes after Habitat II
David Engwicht, campaigner for saner transport, consultant in communication, author of ‘Towards an Eco‐City: Calming the Traffic’ (Envirobook, Sydney, 1990) fits the description of social inventor more than most. Moving from local community action in Brisbane to international consultancy, his experience illustrates how radical social change can grow from the grassroots, and non‐specialists. David Engwicht was interviewed for City on his way to a …
Building a city for all: Notes after Habitat II
Participation in the city: Where do women fit in
Women's priorities have often been ignored in the design of human settlements, the location of housing, and the provision of urban services. New forms of urban partnership are needed to develop participatory processes which include women and men at all stages of urban development. Participation is most commonly associated with political participation or activity. The author gives an overview of the "gendered city", then looks at how men and women…
Assessing and Responding to Urban Poverty: Lessons from Pakistan
Summaries Pakistan provides an interesting challenge to poverty analysts and policy makers concerned with urban poverty because urban poverty is neither as extensive nor as visible as in rural areas of the country, or as in the cities of other South Asian countries such as India. Urban poverty does exist, however, and is bound to increase. The challenge is to make it visible, which requires looking for it in different ways. The article draws on m…
Thoughts on Poverty from a South Asian Rubbish Dump: Gender, Inequality and Household Waste
Summaries The author reflects on the interlocking circuits of accumulation and consumption that characterise the management of household solid waste or garbage in two South Asian cities. She examines the multiple axes of inequality and interdependence that characterise the social relations of residential waste work. Interactions are explored among household members, and between them and paid waste workers such as domestic workers, sweepers and pi…
Trickle‐down or Rising Tide? Lessons on Mainstreaming Gender Policy from Colombia and South Africa
As a result of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976–1985) many member states of the United Nations in the South put in place some form of national machinery for the advancement of women. This paper considers that process, identifying three main phases. The first was heavily overlaid by the agendas of international development agencies and coincided with efforts to advance a "women in development" or WID agenda within international developmen…
A City for All: Valuing Difference and Working with Diversity
Local government, poverty reduction and inequality in Johannesburg
This paper discusses the difficulties facing the post-apartheid metropolitan government of Johannesburg as it reforms itself, seeking to better respond to the needs of all its citizens, while also attracting new investment. These difficulties include high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality as well as the apartheid legacy of “separate development” with its large backlog of poor quality housing and inadequate basic services, much of it …
Local government, poverty reduction and inequality in Johannesburg
This paper discusses the difficulties facing the post-apartheid metropolitan government of Johannesburg as it reforms itself, seeking to better respond to the needs of all its citizens, while also attracting new investment. These difficulties include high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality as well as the apartheid legacy of "separate development" with its large backlog of poor quality housing and inadequate basic services, much of it …
The Causes of Unemployment in Post‐apartheid Johannesburg and the Livelihood Strategies of the Poor
Central to the increase in urban poverty in the post‐apartheid period is the rise in unemployment. This provides the point of departure for this paper. The first section shows how Johannesburg and its environs, although constituting the industrial and commercial heartland of South Africa, is a city that has not reached its potential economic development. Having outlined the causes and dimensions of this sluggish economic position, next is conside…
Victims, Villains and Fixers: The Urban Environment and Johannesburg's Poor
Urban water supply, sanitation and electricity have been identified as basic needs by the post-apartheid government and the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (GJMC).This article explores the relationship of Johannesburg's poor to the urban environment and in particular these three key urban services.On the basis of survey data, case studies, textual analysis and in-depth interviews with policy makers and planners, it reviews how poorer ci…
Doing Gender from Top to Bottom? The South African Case
By taking gender seriously, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa appeared to reverse the trend set by many liberation movements elsewhere: namely, women being mobilized as agents in struggles around class and race, yet denied the imperative of addressing gender subordination. Shortly after coming to power, the ANC adopted a national strategy for advancing gender equality. By doing so it demonstrated that it could rise …
Globalization and social exclusion in cities: Framing the debate with lessons from Africa and Asia
This paper considers the contradictory roles demanded of city governments as they seek to keep their cities competitive in an increasingly globalized world economy while also having increasing responsibilities for addressing social problems, and making local economic development less exclusionary. After reviewing debates on globalization, social exclusion and their interconnections, the paper discusses the impact of globalization on the sweepers …
Political science (39 works) · Sociology (39 works) · Economics (27 works) · Geography (25 works) · Economic growth (22 works) · Law (19 works) · Politics (16 works) · Urban and Rural Development Challenges (16 works) · Legal Issues in South Africa (12 works) · Development economics (11 works)