11.S941 Responding to Displacement: Strategies, Methods, Tools, Outcomes
Units: 2-0-7 (G)
Fall 2015
Wednesdays: 5 to 7 pm.
Room: 9-451
Instructor:
Prof. Miloon Kothari (mkothari@mit.edu)
Description:
The course will be based on the international human rights framework and will be guided
by global standards that have emerged from the United Nations such as the Basic
Principles and Guidelines on Development based Evictions and Displacement. The
course will also explore how these standards have been utilized by social movements
across the world and how planners can use these strategies to move towards a more
ethically based planning profession.
The course will explore, using a case study and practical application methods, different
strategies and tools that are being employed around the world to respond to the growing
phenomenon of displacement and evictions in the context of rapid development and
urbanization. The class will use illustrations of impact assessment tools, mapping
strategies, case law, policy responses and mobilisation methods being employed by
independent institutions, the United Nations, civil society, academics from various
disciplines and government bodies.
The pedagogical purpose of the course is to offer both an intellectual and a practical, field
based framework for understanding one of the world’s most pressing phenomena, which
has a serious impact on many domains of planning including housing, infrastructure and
industrialization and design, and to prepare students to use tools and methods for
improving their capacity for planning that is more equitable and just.
The course will include extensive field work in Boston in various neighborhoods,
including Chinatown, that have historically experienced displacement. Students will work
with community based organisations to create maps and eviction impact assessment
No prerequisites are needed. If students have taken the Spring 2015 class: “Planning
against Evictions and Displacement 11.S941” that will be of additional benefit.
Grading:
Weekly blog on the readings: 30%
Field based exercises: 50%
Class participation: 20%
Weekly blog: More than a summary of the readings, the blog invites you to be analytical,
and opinionated, critically engaging with the materials, but going beyond them to draw
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on on-going cases and other materials from outside of the class syllabus. Each blog must
be between 800-1000 words, be titled and submitted on time through Stellar on ‘Forum’.
Each week blog entries are due by 1 PM. on Wednesday. The first week is exempted
from this.
No final paper is required. Students will, however, be required to complete the mapping
and eviction impact assessment studies prior to the completion of the class.
This course is a part of the work of the MIT Displacement Research and Action Network
(DRAN): http://displacement.mit.edu/. The course will draw upon the ongoing and
emerging research and field work at DRAN in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India and the
United States.
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Class 1 and 2: 09/09/15 and 16/09/15: An Overview of Tools and Strategies to
counter Displacement
1. Universal Declaration on Human Rights
2. UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development based Evictions and
Displacement
3. Mapping Displacement in Delhi, India (Report of MIT DRAN).
4. HLRN Eviction Impact Assessment Tool
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