Law and the social production of urban space: the case for critical legal geography in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

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Periodical article

Title:	Law and the social production of urban space: the case for critical legal geography in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Author:	Leduka, R.C.
Year:	1998
Periodical:	Lesotho Law Journal: A Journal of Law and Development
Volume:	11
Issue:	1
Pages:	1-24
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:	legislation urban planning geographical research
Abstract:	Given the illegality of the greatest proportion of urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the 'illegality' of areas in which the majority of urban residents live and work, a compelling case exists for extending a sociolegally inspired critical geography to research on law in sub-Saharan African cities. In arguing the case, the author provides an overview of sociolegal studies, discusses the emerging field of law and geography studies, and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the critical geographic approach. In adopting the approach as a guide to research on urban law in sub-Saharan Africa a number of issues need to be considered, such as the role of law in the development of 'illegal' urban settlements and the effect of law on everyday life in such settlements. In addition, it will be necessary to temper critical geography's inherent bias towards regulatory law by taking into account developmental law as well, and to correct an overly institutionalist perspective to law, which considers law only as 'State law' and which tends to be blind to other types of law, especially non-dispute law. Notes, ref.