How urban informality can inform response to pandemics (COVID-19): A research agenda for the future.

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Date

2021-01-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

Abstract

In the era of increasingly defined ontological insecurity and uncertainty driven by the ravages of COVID-19, urban informal settlement has emerged as a source of resilience. Indeed, the effects of a pandemic transcends its epidemiological characteristics to political economy and societal resilience. If resilience is the capacity of a system to adapt successfully to significant challenges that threaten the function or development of the human society, then ontological insecurity is about the lack of such capacity. Drawing on Keith Hartian’s understanding of ‘informality’ of spaces, this policy brief attempts to identify and frame a research agenda for the future. The agenda would assist future researchers and policymakers provide responses that appropriately recognize groups and actors that define the urban informal space.

Description

Keywords

Informal urban settlements, Research agenda, Formalization of the informal, Ontological insecurity, COVID-19

Citation

Onditi, F., Nyadera, I.N., Obimbo, M.M. et al. How urban ‘informality’ can inform response to COVID-19: a research agenda for the future. HPLS 43, 6 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-020-00362-7