Urban informality and spaces of exception: Urban planning and social distinction in Dhaka

Abstract

Informality is much more than just the economic ‘sector’. Existing literature mostly focused on informal housing and informal economy. However, the urban poor are not the only group that occupy cities’ space informally, the urban elites also illegally occupy land. In many cities in the Global South, informality is so blended within the urban governance structure that the line between formal and informal practices is often hard to distinguish. Several studies have confirmed that various forms of informality exist in the Global South that slip through the laws of urban space or break institutional regulations. Yet, certain informal practices are approved or tolerated while others are labelled ..