Understanding Cairo : the logic of a city out of control

Trying to make sense of the urban giant that is Cairo. "This book moves beyond superficial generalizations about Cairo as a chaotic metropolis in the developing world into an analysis of the ways the city's eighteen million inhabitants have, in the face of a largely neglectful government, built and shaped their own city. Using a wealth of recent studies on Greater Cairo and a deep reading of informal urban processes, the city and its recent history are portrayed and mapped: the huge, spontaneous neighborhoods; housing; traffic and transport; city government; and its people and their enterprises. The book argues that understanding a city such as Cairo is not a daunting task as long as pre-conceived notions are discarded and care is taken to apprehend available information and to assess it with a critical eye. In the case of Cairo, this approach leads to a conclusion that the city can be considered a kind of success story, in spite of everything" -- Cover. Trying To Make Sense Of The Urban Giant That Is Cairo. This Book Moves Beyond Superficial Generalizations About Cairo As A Chaotic Metropolis In The Developing World Into An Analysis Of The Ways The City's Eighteen Million Inhabitants Have, In The Face Of A Largely Neglectful Government, Built And Shaped Their Own City. Using A Wealth Of Recent Studies On Greater Cairo And A Deep Reading Of Informal Urban Processes, The City And Its Recent History Are Portrayed And Mapped: The Huge, Spontaneous Neighborhoods; Housing; Traffic And Transport; City Government; And Its People And Their Enterprises. The Failed Attempts Of The State To Create The New, Modern Egypt In The Deserts Surrounding Cairo And Their Unintended Consequences As A Colossal Speculative Frontier Are Given A Special Focus. The Book Argues That Understanding A City Such As Cairo Is Not A Daunting Task As Long As Pre-conceived Notions Are Discarded And Care Is Taken To Apprehend Available Information And To Assess It With A Critical Eye. Imaging Cairo -- Cairo Is Egypt And Egypt Is Cairo -- A History Of Modern Cairo : Three Cities In One -- Informal Cairo Triumphant -- Housing Real And Speculative -- The Desert City Today -- Working In The City -- City On The Move : A Complementary Informality? -- Governing Cairo -- Summing Up : Serendipity? David Sims. Dar El Kutub No. 2378/10--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References ( P. 311-321) And Index. This volume describes the urban development of the Egyptian city of Cairo over the past half century, concentrating on issues of land and housing use and development, as well as intersecting issues of economic organization, transport, and governance. The central theme that arises in nearly every aspect of the proceedings is the contradiction between the authoritarian (but often ineffective) state and the vast areas of informality that make Cairo what it is today, although particularly in the arena of housing and land, where, for example, urban extensions planned by the state often remain devoid of inhabitants while two-thirds of the city's inhabitants live in unplanned neighborhoods that have sprung up since 1950 in contravention of state policies and laws. Distributed in North America by Oxford University Press. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Imaging Cairo -- Cairo is Egypt and Egypt is Cairo -- A history of modern Cairo : three cities in one -- Informal Cairo triumphant -- Housing real and speculative -- The desert city today -- Working in the city -- City on the move : a complementary informality? -- Governing Cairo -- Summing up : Cairo serendipity?