Goodfellow, T. (2014) Rwanda’s urban transition and the RPF political settlement: Expropriation, construction and taxation in Kigali. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 8 (2). pp. 311-329. ISSN 1753-1055
Abstract
Although still predominantly rural, Rwanda is one of the world’s fastest-urbanising countries. This paper considers the Rwandan Patriotic Front’s approach to urban development in the context of intense pressure on land and a stated long-term agenda of moving towards a future that is ‘100% urban’. The RPF government has won plaudits for its transformation of Kigali, and its Land Tenure Regularisation programme is proceeding at a pace few anticipated. Its approach to the urban question remains, however, both highly controversial abroad and contested within the country. There is widespread acknowledgement that aspects of the government’s urban agenda have been disadvantageous to the poor, but it is also unclear whether the implementation of this agenda is furthering or hindering their overarching drive for economic growth, structural transformation and political stability. In particular, the expropriation of urban land and the political-economic interests embedded in the real estate sector have critical impacts on Rwanda’s development trajectory. Utilising a ‘political settlements’ approach but introducing a spatial perspective focused on the transformation of Kigali, this paper explores the governance of land reform, urban planning, expropriation and property taxation, analyses how these illuminate the broader settlement in place, and considers the implications for Rwanda’s future.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2014 Taylor & Francis. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Journal of Eastern African Studies. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Urban Studies & Planning (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 May 2015 08:34 |
Last Modified: | 16 Aug 2015 10:33 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2014.891714 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/17531055.2014.891714 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:83395 |