ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 describes the book’s spirit and methodology. It explains how a bottom-up anthropological perspective was applied to urban development to examine micro-level neighbourhood and community contexts. The theoretical framework is, however, multi-disciplinary, spanning social and psychological sciences, and planning and design disciplines. The book is constructed as an idealistic example of applied social science and urban policy research. The chapter acknowledges the political nature of urban development and power disparities inherent between its stakeholders, particularly in low- to middle-income countries. Organic informal development and community-led approaches are championed, and the chapter explains that the policy environment is under-emphasised in its micro-level quest.
The authors’ approach is described including the theoretical concepts reviewed, methods used to locate the case studies and their selection criteria. The questions that were asked of each are stated. Caveats are offered regarding the scope of material covered within scholarly and information limitations. The analytical strategy with which the theoretical framework was used to draw powerful insights from the cases is described. Methodological limitations are stated and the book’s accomplishment in shedding new light through its rare blending of disciplines.
