Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integral Theory: a Tool for Mapping and Understanding Conflicting Governmentalities in the Upgrading of Cape Town’s Informal Settlements

  • Published:
Urban Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nearly 70 % of sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population live in informal settlements and populations are expected to double by 2030. Based on the constitutional right to adequate housing and growing public pressure and dissent, the South African government has begun a process of large-scale formalisation through the provision of housing and infrastructure to informal areas. A disjuncture has however occurred and conflicts have arisen between what are understood as modernist ideas of how cities should appear and function (formality) and an alternate, organic and flexible mode of thought (the informal). This conflict is seen by some authors as a ‘clash of governmentalities’ which goes deeper than a simple lack of dialogue, inadequate participation and/or a disinclination to see others’ points of view. For a number of years, calls have been made for a way to organise these governmentalities and perspectives, understand what goes on at their interface and unpack the complexity that exists between them. Integral Theory and its AQAL (All Quadrants, All Levels) framework are fast becoming a sought-after arena of academic discourse. It deals specifically with complex interactions and perspectives and offers a methodology that draws together a number of already existing separate paradigms and perspectives into a unified, interrelated framework. This paper uses the AQAL framework and Integral Theory as a tool to map the differing governmentalities (rationalities, techniques and practices) that exist in the upgrading of informal settlements in Cape Town and understand their relationship and interactions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott, M. (2002). An analysis of informal settlement upgrading and critique of existing methodological approaches. Habitat International, 6(3), 303–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adlard, G. (2006). An evaluation of the new rest upgrade. Master’s thesis, Department of Environmental and Geographical Studies, Cape Town: University of Cape Town.

  • Angignu, N., & Huchzermeyer, M. (2009). Towards urban inclusion: Planact’s response to the phenomenon of informal settlements. Johannesburg: Planact.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. (2005). Theory and practice of integral sustainable development. Part 1—quadrants and the practitioner. AQAL: Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 1(2), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlton, S., & Kihato, C. (2006). Reaching the poor: an analysis of the evolution of South Africa’s housing programme. In U. Pillay, R. Tomlinson, & J. du Toit (Eds.), In democracy and delivery: urban policy in South Africa. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeKay, M. (2011). Integral Sustainable Design: Transformative Perspectives. Oxon: Earthscan.

  • Esbjorn-Hargens, S. (2007). Integral teacher, integral students, integral classroom: applying integral theory to education. AQAL: Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 2(2), 72–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esbjörn-Hargens, S. (2009). An overview of integral theory: an all-inclusive framework for the 21st century. Integral Institute, 1, 1–24, Resource Paper No.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fieuw, W. (2011). Informal settlement upgrading in Cape Town’s Hangberg: local government, urban governance and the ‘right to the city’. Master’s thesis, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University.

  • Gabardi, W. (2001). Negotiating postmodernism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardener, D. (2003). Getting South Africans under shelter: an overview of the South African housing sector. Johannesburg: Housing Finance Resource Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gontsana, M. (2013). Cape Town’s informal settlements keep growing. http://wFww.groundup.org.za/content/cape-town%E2%80%99s-informal-settlements-keep-growing. Accessed 5 May 2013.

  • Graham, N. (2006). Informal settlement upgrading in Cape Town: challenges, constraints and contradictions within local government. In M. Huchzermeyer & A. Karam (Eds.), Informal settlements. A perpetual challenge? Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, A. (2014). Renting shacks: landlords and tenants in the informal. Urban Challenge (Urbani izziv), 25(s), S96–S107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh, M. (2013). AQAL integral: a holistic framework for pedagogic research. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 1, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huchzermeyer, M. (1999). Current informal settlement intervention in South Africa: four case studies of people-driven initiative. Cape Town: CSIR Boutek, University of Cape Town.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huchzermeyer, M. (2004). From “contravention of laws” to “lack of rights”: redefining the problem of informal settlements in South Africa. Habitat International, 28(3), 333–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huchzermeyer, M. (2006). The new instrument for upgrading informal settlements in South Africa: contributions and constraints. In M. Huchzermeyer & A. Karam (Eds.), Informal settlements. A perpetual challenge. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huchzermeyer, M. (2008). Slum upgrading in Nairobi within the housing and basic services market: a housing rights concern. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 43(1), 19–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huchzermeyer, M., & Karam, A. (Eds.). (2006). Informal settlements. A perpetual challenge? Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolobe, Z. (2006). Things fall apart, can the centre hold? The state of coalition politics in the Cape Metropolitan Council. In U. Pillay, R. Tomlinson, & J. du Toit (Eds.), Democracy and delivery: urban policy in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey, R. (2013). Competing rationalities and informal settlement upgrading in Cape Town, South Africa: a recipe for failure. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 28(4), 605–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massey, R. (2014). Exploring counter-conduct in upgraded informal settlements: the case of women residents in Makhaza and New Rest (Cape Town), South Africa. Habitat International, 44(2014), 290–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, S. (Ed.). (2004). A dictionary of geography (article: governmentality). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, D., & Smith, L. (2004). Privatising Cape Town: from apartheid to neo-liberalism in the mother city. Urban Studies, 41(8), 1461–1484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miraftab, F. (2007). Governing post-apartheid spatiality: implementing city improvement districts in Cape Town. Antipode, 39(4), 602–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misselhorn, M. (2008). Position paper on informal settlement upgrading. Part of a strategy for the second economy. Office of the South African Presidency. Cape Town: Urban LandMark.

  • Myers, G. (2011). African cities: alternative visions of urban theory and practice. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidoo, N., Chidley, C., & McNamara, A. (2008). The implementation of hygiene education programmes in informal settlements, developing communities: water supply and sanitation. The Water Research Commission (WRC), WRC Report No 1656/1/08.

  • Norton, L. (2012). Integral sustainable design. http://www.metropolismag.com/pov/20120113/integral sustainable-design. Accessed 25 May 2012.

  • O’Brien, K. & Hochachka, G. (2010). Integral adaptation to climate change. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 5(1), 89–102.

  • Oldfield, S. (2002). Partial formalization and its implications for community governance in an informal settlement. Urban Forum, 13(20), 102–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pikholz, L. (1997). Managing politics and storytelling: meeting the challenge of upgrading informal settlements in South Africa. Habitat International, 21(4), 377–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, N., O'Malley, P., & Valverde, M. (2006). Governmentality. Annual Review of Law and Social Sciences, 2, 83–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saff, G. (1994). The changing face of the South Africa city: from urban apartheid to the deracialization of space. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 18(3), 377–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, C. (2008). Integral scenarios: re-framing theory, building from practice. Futures, 40, 160–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tshikotshi, V. (2009). The challenges of eradicating informal settlements in South Africa by 2014. The case of Seraleng sustainable human settlement, Rustenburg local municipality, North West Province. Master’s thesis, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand.

  • Watson, V. (2002). Change and continuity in spatial planning: metropolitan planning in Cape Town under political transition. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, V. (2003). Conflicting rationalities: implications for planning theory and ethics. Planning Theory and Practice, 4(4), 395–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, V. (2009). Seeing from the south: refocusing urban planning on the globe’s central urban issues. Urban Studies, 46(11), 2259–2275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wikipedia (2014). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa. Accessed 3 July 2014.

  • Wilber, K. (2000). A theory of everything: an integral vision for business, politics, science, and spirituality. Boston: Shambhala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, K. (2003). Foreword. In F. Visser (Ed.), Ken Wilber: thought as passion. Albany: SUNY Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, K. (2005a). Introduction to integral theory and practice: IOS basic and the AQAL map. AQAL: Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 1(1), 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, K. (2005b). The integral operating system, version 1.0. IOS users guide. Boulder: Sounds True Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, K. (2006). Integral spirituality: a startling new role for religion in the modern and postmodern world. Boston: Integral Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, P. (2004). Renegotiating local governance in a post-apartheid city: the case of Cape Town. Urban Forum, 15(3), 213–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yose, C. (1999) From shacks to houses: space usage and social change in a Western Cape shanty town. Master’s thesis, Department of Social Anthropology, Cape Town: University of Cape Town.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The people of Makhaza, New Rest, the City of Cape Town and related organisations are thanked for their willingness to participate in the study. This paper is dedicated in memory of the late Zuki Hani who was instrumental in this research. This research was partially funded through SANPAD.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of the Free State, South Africa, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9300

    Ruth Massey

Authors
  1. Ruth Massey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth Massey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Massey, R. Integral Theory: a Tool for Mapping and Understanding Conflicting Governmentalities in the Upgrading of Cape Town’s Informal Settlements. Urban Forum 26, 303–319 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-015-9252-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-015-9252-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation