Urban social movements in the third world/ edited by Frans, Schuuraman and Ton van Naerssen

Living conditions and housing for the poor in many Third World cities are still very basic and in many cases are deteriorating. In the last decade, however, there has been an upsurge of locally-based movements attempting to improve conditions through self-help schemes. This book considers these movements, presenting qualitative, comparative research on their dynamics and constraints, in a cross-cultural framework. In the course of specific case studies set in a wide range of different Latin American, African and Asian countries, the contributors look at the various characteristics of urban social movements. These include political consciousness, ideology, clientelism, types of action and opposition& against local and national government.

As more democratic-type regimes establish themselves in Third World countries, the possibilities for collective organizations and actions increase. Urban social movements, therefore, are playing an increasingly important role in improving the habitat of the poor.