The Undulating Capacity of the State

The Autochthony Effect: How Belonging Shapes State Capacity in African Cities

This Element explores the interplay between local belonging, urbanism, and state capacity in Africa, offering fresh insights into how African states navigate development interventions in key urban centers. It delves into the varying levels of trust in the state that influence neighborhood responses to these interventions.

Through the lens of the Senegalese state’s VDN 2 highway project near Dakar, …