ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter explores the interplay between formalised and informalised practices in urban planning and infrastructure delivery in secondary cities, introducing the concept of hybrid urbanisms. It deconstructs the binary understanding of formal and informal urban development, emphasising their interdependence and unique configurations in different urban contexts. The chapter highlights the contributions of the book as threefold: firstly, it adds to discussions on urban development by applying hybrid urbanisms in various urban contexts and specific challenges in planning and infrastructure delivery; secondly, it supports research on secondary cities, enhancing understanding of them as particular urban contexts that are considered to develop innovative approaches in the context of decentralisation whilst suffering from limited capacities and resources; thirdly, it contributes to the emergence of new theories of southern urbanisms. The comparative analysis of Ghanaian and Peruvian cities, rooted in long-term research partnerships, underscores the necessity of context-specific, collaborative, and adaptive approaches to urban planning that integrate the realities of informalised urbanisms. This chapter concludes with an explanation of the structure of the book and a short overview of the different chapters featured in the volume.
