The Potential and Limits of the ‘Resilience Agenda’ in Peri-urban Contexts

Abstract

Today, it is acknowledged that peri-urban space plays a critical and increasing role in relation to urban expansion. Yet this role is still poorly understood and peri-urban areas are rarely recognised in the different relevant decision-making spheres, leading to the political and economic marginalisation of peri-urban residents, who are often among the poor. Two policy-relevant questions emerge from this. What can the resilience narrative, which is increasingly used in the context of urbanisation, offer to address this disconnect? And what do policies that foster resilience in peri-urban spaces look like? A recent study led by IDS fellows attempted to answer these questions. The study shows that promoting resilience in peri-urban contexts involves fostering adaptation, emphasising systems thinking that brings together urban and rural dynamics, and recognising that path dependence matters.