This rich and provocative collection succeeds not only in deconstructing the outmoded antinomies of informal versus formal, local versus global, and marginalized versus institutionalized power, but, mirabili dictu, takes a giant leap along the path to fruitful reconstruction. Its strong chapters, written by theoretically sophisticated and research-grounded area specialists with considerable experience in specific urbanized settings in the Middle East, Latin America, and South Asia, not only illustrate common problems but identify variations in response, contingent on differences in their cultural, economic, and geopolitical contexts.

Janet Abu-Lughod, New School for Social Research (Emerita)

The spread of urban informality is the most significant trend shaping the space and time of our 21st century world. This book is the finest collection of scholarly essays I know on this phenomenon. It should be mandatory reading for courses on urbanization and on development studies.

Manuel Castells, University of California at Berkeley (Emeritus)

The book presents a rich view of 'urban informality' as a system of regulation and norms that governs the use of space and makes possible new forms of social and political power. The editors are well experienced in teaching town planning and the book will be found very useful reading by the town planners, developers, and other government and local self-government officials.

Educational Book Review