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CapitalCitiesinAfrica:PowerandPowerlessness
SimonBekkerStellenboschUniversity,SouthAfrica
Thursday,October51- 2:30pm
D214MacCorry
Thistalkexploresthecomplicatedprocessesofnation–statebuildingthroughitsmanifestationinthe“urbangeology”ofthecity—itsarchitecture,iconography,layout,andpoliticaluseofurbanspace.Overwhelmedbythechallengesresultingfromtheirurbanization,thegovernmentsseatedinmostofthesecapitalcitiesareineffectbothpowerful—wieldingpowerovertheirpopulace—andpowerless,unabletoimplementtheirplansandprovidefortheirinhabitants.
SimonBekker isavisitingProfessorfromStellenboschUniversityinSouthAfrica.HehasbeenProfessorofDevelopmentStudiesatRhodesUniversityandDirectoroftheCentreforSocialandDevelopmentStudiesattheUniversityofNatal(Durban).HehasbeenaVisitingFellowatOxfordUniversity,theCentred'Étude d'AfriqueNoire,France,theSwedishCollegiumforAdvancedStudy,Uppsala,SwedenandattheStellenboschInstituteforAdvancedStudy.Heisco-authorofGoverningCitiesinAfrica:PoliticsandPolicies(2013)andCapitalCitiesinAfrica:PowerandPowerlessness(2014) .