Course Overview
Informal urbanism, a growing phenomenon, transgresses the formal codes of the state in terms of land
tenure, urban planning, design and construction. However, eschewing with facile binary distinctions of
formal versus informal, this course examines the reality of informal urbanism in its own right— as a selforganizing adaptive system. Through the lens of an ethnographically-informed study of the dynamics of a
squatter settlement in New Delhi, the course primarily examines the uneasy relationship, in terms of
space and law, that informal settlements have with the formal city. The course grounds students in the
dynamics of informal urbanism by employing interdisciplinary perspectives that view physical, social,
cultural, economic, environmental, governance and policy issues as being interdependent. Recognizing
the limitations of spatial disciplines in addressing the challenges of informal settlements, the course
introduces students to stakeholder analyses and participatory approaches to foster transformative
development in these settlements.
Pre-requisite(s)
There are no set pre-requisites for this course.
Corequisite(s)
There are no set corequisites for this course.
Course Aim
The aim of this course is to offer an interdisciplinary perspective on the lived reality of informal urbanism.
It also aims in getting students to transcend the discipline of spatial design and think in terms of social
design that is rooted in a participatory or human-centered design processes.
Course Objectives
On completion of this course students should be able to:
CO 1: Appreciate the lived reality of informal settlements as a self-organizing adaptive system
CO 2: Understand the complex relationship between informal settlements and the formal city, especially
in terms of space and law
CO 3: Analyse the agency of different stakeholders and use participatory approaches to foster
transformative development
CO 4: Apply theoretical knowledge and skills in team-work to a social design project
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Assessment Requirements
The assessment for this module comprises four tasks:
Task
Attendance, punctuality and
participation
Critical responses to readings
Essay
Task Description
Regular attendance and active
participation, on the basis of an
informed understanding, is crucial
to this discussed-based seminar.
Students will demonstrate their
careful preparation of assigned
readings by leading the class in a
discussion. Students are expected
to demonstrate their own critical
response to the reading and
facilitate discussion by presenting
some questions to the class to
ponder.
Students will write 1 essay on
either of the following topics:
 A critical analysis of the
challenges and
opportunities of informal
urbanism, which includes
suggestions for
transformative
development.
OR
 A description of a viable
intervention (based on
the assumption of
availability of a modest
funding) that can be
undertaken to improve
living conditions in a
selected informal
settlement. The paper
should demonstrate
application of theory
learnt in class to a reallife situation.
The essay should be 1000-1500
words and situated in the context
of existing literature on the topic,
and properly referenced.
Format: Times New Roman 12
pts. font, 1.5 spacing.
Delivery and deadline: A hard
copy and an e-copy via email late
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% of Final grade
20%
20%
30%
Group presentation
by Apr 15, 5 pm.
Students, in groups of 4-5, will
deliver a presentation of about 20
mins (including Q & A) on a group
project that seeks to engage with
the spatial and socio-cultural
realities of an informal settlement
by proposing a viable intervention
to improve the living conditions of
some or all of the residents.
30% (25% on group process and
5% on presentation skills)
(25% of the grade in this
criterion will be determined by
peers)
:: Additional Assessment Requirements
Participation is considered a fundamental aspect to all courses of the Mundus Urbano
programme. Failure to actively participate and engage in class and/or group discussions
may negatively affect grading procedures.
Exam/Grading Criteria
Essays and presentations will be evaluated based on following criteria:
• Adequate introduction and description of the context
• Clear structure, critical analysis, and justifiable suggestions
• Correct and appropriate referencing
Required Readings
Day 1 (Apr 11): Topic: Organizational dynamics of informal settlement
Dovey, K. (2012). Informal urbanism and complex adaptive assemblage. International
Development Planning Review, 34, 4, 349-367.
Datta, A. (2012). Introduction. The illegal city: Space, law and gender in a Delhi squatter
settlement. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
Roy, A. (2005). ‘Urban Informality: Toward an Epistemology of Planning’. Journal of the
American Planning Association 71(2): 147-158.
Day 2 (Apr 12): Topic: Spatial, legal and socio-cultural realities
Datta, A. (2012). Chapters 1 & 2. The illegal city: Space, law and gender in a Delhi
squatter settlement. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
Nakamura, S. (January 01, 2014). Impact of slum formalization on self-help housing
construction: A case of slum notification in India. Urban Studies, 51, 3420-3444.
Day 3 (Apr 13): Topic: Stakeholder Analysis (and perspectives on gender)
Datta, A. (2012). Chapters 3, 4, & 5. The illegal city: Space, law and gender in a Delhi
squatter settlement. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
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Day 4 (Apr 14): Topic: Participatory Approaches
Russ, L. W., & Takahashi, L. M. (January 01, 2013). Exploring the influence of
participation on programme satisfaction: Lessons from the Ahmedabad Slum
Networking Project. Urban Studies, 50, 691-708.
Otsuki, K. (2015). Chapter 4. Transformative sustainable development: Participation,
reflection and change. New York: Routledge.
Environment & Urbanization. (2012). Why enumeration counts; documenting by the
undocumented. Environment & Urbanization Brief –24. London, England: International
Institute for Environment and Development.
Datta, A. (2012). Chapters 6 & 7. The illegal city: Space, law and gender in a Delhi
squatter settlement. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. (Optional)
Day 5 (Apr 15):
9-12: Group presentations
5 pm: Final paper due
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