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Pirate Towns: Reworking Social and Symbolic Infrastructures in Johannesburg and Douala

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  • AbdouMaliq Simone

    (International Affairs Program, The New School New York, 66 West l2th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA. Fax: 1 212 924 1292, SimoneA@newschool.edu)

Abstract

Through examinations of inner-city street economies in Johannesburg and mechanisms of emigration and political resistance in the Bapenda Omnisport and Mouchouchou quarters of Douala, the paper attempts to explore how notions of piracy might usefully elucidate the everyday practices of African urban residents attempting to operate more resourcefully in underresourced cities. Rather than being rooted in clearly defined familial, territorial and institutional relationships, residents increasingly seek out and manage a wide diversity of engagements within the city without long-term or clearly defined commitments. The key to realising movement within and among cities is to multiply the uses that can be made of resources of all kinds and this means the ability to put together different combinations of people with different skills, perspectives, linkages, identities and aspirations. Such complex and not easily identifiable forms of social organisation constitute a kind of perceptual system, a way of seeing that leads individuals and groups to put objects and experiences to many, otherwise unanticipated uses.

Suggested Citation

  • AbdouMaliq Simone, 2006. "Pirate Towns: Reworking Social and Symbolic Infrastructures in Johannesburg and Douala," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 43(2), pages 357-370, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:43:y:2006:i:2:p:357-370
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980500146974
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Theodore Trefon, 2002. "The political economy of sacrifice: Kinois & the state," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(93-94), pages 481-498, September.
    2. Tim Kelsall, "undated". "Governance, Local Politics and 'Districtization' in Tanzania: the 1998 Arumeru Tax Revolt," QEH Working Papers qehwps41, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    3. Arjun Appadurai, 1998. "Dead Certainty: Ethnic Violence in the Era of Globalization," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 29(4), pages 905-925, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. John Friedmann, 2007. "Forum 2007," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 38(6), pages 987-998, November.
    2. Danielle Resnick, 2014. "Urban Governance and Service Delivery in African Cities: The Role of Politics and Policies," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 32(s1), pages 3-17, July.
    3. Ananya Roy, 2007. "The location of practice: a response to John Forester's 'Exploring urban practice in a democratising society: opportunities, techniques and challenges'," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 623-628.
    4. Christine Hentschel, 2015. "Postcolonializing Berlin and The Fabrication of The Urban," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 79-91, January.

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