Countering urban binaries within a third space

The article Counter-City: Durban's Struggle with Urban Development and Third Space explores the notion of the 'counter-city,' particularly through the process of 'countering' within a 'third space' framework. This concept, as applied to Durban, South Africa, represents alternative practices and understandings of urban development that challenge dominant global narratives, especially those shaped by northern discourse. Durban, transitioning from its colonial and apartheid past, is now grappling with legacies of inequality, informality, and contested governance, while striving to become a global city. These challenges require a rethinking of the city's trajectory, blending policy and grassroots initiatives to amplify the voices of the marginalised and address urgent issues like poverty, environmental risk, and economic resilience.

Key points from Durban's counter-city experience include:

• Municipal and civil society actions resist dominant global models, focusing on local needs and challenges;
• Policies and programmes aim to provide a voice to the poor and address social inequality;
• The city seeks to balance environmental sustainability with economic growth;
• Durban's development reflects a broader rethinking of what urban life and governance mean in a post-colonial, globalising context.

Abstract based on source.