River Cities in Asia uncovers the intimate relationship between rivers and cities in Asia from a ... more River Cities in Asia uncovers the intimate relationship between rivers and cities in Asia from a multi-disciplinary perspective in the humanities and the social sciences. As rivers have shaped human settlement patterns, economies, culture and rituals, so too have humans impacted the flow and health of rivers. In Asia, the sheer scale of urbanization increases the urgency of addressing challenges facing urban rivers, leading to the importance of historically, socially, and culturally relevant solutions. However, cities are also uneven landscapes of power, affecting chances to achieve holistic ecological approaches. The central premise of River Cities in Asia is that a “river city” is one where proximity between a river and a city exists across time and space, natural and social dimensions. Recognition of these deep connections can help to better contextualize policy solutions aimed at rivers and their ecologies, including human life.
The objective of the present Study was to help uncover the “character of power” in villages and m... more The objective of the present Study was to help uncover the “character of power” in villages and mitaa [streets] in Tanzania, specifically as related to decision-making about local development. It examined how power is exercised at the local level, and by whom. In addition, it sought to identify which opportunities are available for people living in poverty to influence decision making, and which obstacles block real participation as well as demands for accountability.The results of the Study confirm some of the familiar conclusions about participation in the existing literature on development and participation in Tanzania. Other findings are newer and perhaps more surprising. Among the familiar findings is the fact that, first, there is a long tradition of centralized planning in Tanzania; this tradition is still reflected—to varying degrees—in the current practice of local development planning, which is still quite “top down” in orientation. Second, the current practice of particip...
The ten essays in Future Challenges of Cities in Asia engage with some of the most critical urban... more The ten essays in Future Challenges of Cities in Asia engage with some of the most critical urban questions of the near future across Asia. These comprise socio-economic and cultural transitions as a result of urbanization; environmental challenges, especially questions of climate change, natural disasters, and environmental justice; and the challenges of urban infrastructure, built form, and new emerging types of urban settlements. The essays demonstrate that it is increasingly difficult to conceptualize the ‘urban’ as one particular type of settlement. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that the ‘urban’ characterizes a global transition in the way we are beginning to think about settlements. This book is of interest not only to researchers interested in comparative and inter-disciplinary research, but also to urban practitioners more broadly, illustrating through concrete cases the challenges that urban regions in Asia and beyond are facing, and the various opportunities tha...
Policy makers and housing rights professionals worldwide are interested in “land sharing” as an i... more Policy makers and housing rights professionals worldwide are interested in “land sharing” as an instrument of slum improvement and secure tenure provision in urban areas. The technique involves partitioning a piece of land so that it can accommodate land occupants on one portion of the site, and landowners or commercial development on the other portion, thereby solving a land dispute through compromise instead of through force. The net result of land sharing is that residents of informal settlements obtain the legal right to stay in the city, in new housing and on land they have occupied (often for a long time) instead of being evicted. At the same time, private development can also proceed. Several land sharing schemes are currently underway in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, as pilot projects of a large-scale slum upgrading program. The results so far are mixed: a land sharing agreement has been signed in the largest of the four settlements, where residents will be re-ho...
Existing knowledge regarding the role of household adaptation in pursuing urban resilience, espec... more Existing knowledge regarding the role of household adaptation in pursuing urban resilience, especially in developing countries, is limited. Upon this rationale, the study provides in-depth empirical evidence on how resilience is framed, pursued, and realized from the perspective of low-income households in the Philippines. The study adopted a mixed-methods strategy to expound on the dynamics that affect resilience-building measures at the household level. The quantitative tools were chosen to provide empirical evidence on how residents in selected areas understand resilience and the actions undertaken to realize desired outcomes. The findings were further examined through analysis of data gathered from key informant interviews, relevant local policies, and regulations. Key findings show that autonomous household responses are intended, albeit intuitively, as resilience-building measures from the need to address risks immediately. These measures are undertaken independently and can p...
River Cities in Asia uncovers the intimate relationship between rivers and cities in Asia from a ... more River Cities in Asia uncovers the intimate relationship between rivers and cities in Asia from a multi-disciplinary perspective in the humanities and the social sciences. As rivers have shaped human settlement patterns, economies, culture and rituals, so too have humans impacted the flow and health of rivers. In Asia, the sheer scale of urbanization increases the urgency of addressing challenges facing urban rivers, leading to the importance of historically, socially, and culturally relevant solutions. However, cities are also uneven landscapes of power, affecting chances to achieve holistic ecological approaches. The central premise of River Cities in Asia is that a “river city” is one where proximity between a river and a city exists across time and space, natural and social dimensions. Recognition of these deep connections can help to better contextualize policy solutions aimed at rivers and their ecologies, including human life.
The objective of the present Study was to help uncover the “character of power” in villages and m... more The objective of the present Study was to help uncover the “character of power” in villages and mitaa [streets] in Tanzania, specifically as related to decision-making about local development. It examined how power is exercised at the local level, and by whom. In addition, it sought to identify which opportunities are available for people living in poverty to influence decision making, and which obstacles block real participation as well as demands for accountability.The results of the Study confirm some of the familiar conclusions about participation in the existing literature on development and participation in Tanzania. Other findings are newer and perhaps more surprising. Among the familiar findings is the fact that, first, there is a long tradition of centralized planning in Tanzania; this tradition is still reflected—to varying degrees—in the current practice of local development planning, which is still quite “top down” in orientation. Second, the current practice of particip...
The ten essays in Future Challenges of Cities in Asia engage with some of the most critical urban... more The ten essays in Future Challenges of Cities in Asia engage with some of the most critical urban questions of the near future across Asia. These comprise socio-economic and cultural transitions as a result of urbanization; environmental challenges, especially questions of climate change, natural disasters, and environmental justice; and the challenges of urban infrastructure, built form, and new emerging types of urban settlements. The essays demonstrate that it is increasingly difficult to conceptualize the ‘urban’ as one particular type of settlement. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that the ‘urban’ characterizes a global transition in the way we are beginning to think about settlements. This book is of interest not only to researchers interested in comparative and inter-disciplinary research, but also to urban practitioners more broadly, illustrating through concrete cases the challenges that urban regions in Asia and beyond are facing, and the various opportunities tha...
Policy makers and housing rights professionals worldwide are interested in “land sharing” as an i... more Policy makers and housing rights professionals worldwide are interested in “land sharing” as an instrument of slum improvement and secure tenure provision in urban areas. The technique involves partitioning a piece of land so that it can accommodate land occupants on one portion of the site, and landowners or commercial development on the other portion, thereby solving a land dispute through compromise instead of through force. The net result of land sharing is that residents of informal settlements obtain the legal right to stay in the city, in new housing and on land they have occupied (often for a long time) instead of being evicted. At the same time, private development can also proceed. Several land sharing schemes are currently underway in the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, as pilot projects of a large-scale slum upgrading program. The results so far are mixed: a land sharing agreement has been signed in the largest of the four settlements, where residents will be re-ho...
Existing knowledge regarding the role of household adaptation in pursuing urban resilience, espec... more Existing knowledge regarding the role of household adaptation in pursuing urban resilience, especially in developing countries, is limited. Upon this rationale, the study provides in-depth empirical evidence on how resilience is framed, pursued, and realized from the perspective of low-income households in the Philippines. The study adopted a mixed-methods strategy to expound on the dynamics that affect resilience-building measures at the household level. The quantitative tools were chosen to provide empirical evidence on how residents in selected areas understand resilience and the actions undertaken to realize desired outcomes. The findings were further examined through analysis of data gathered from key informant interviews, relevant local policies, and regulations. Key findings show that autonomous household responses are intended, albeit intuitively, as resilience-building measures from the need to address risks immediately. These measures are undertaken independently and can p...
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Papers by Paul Rabé