Work

A historiograph of slum governance: theoretical evolution, research agenda, and policy implications to overcome urban disparities

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study produces a historiograph of slum governance scholarship to trace its intellectual evolution and map its theoretical structure. By applying a bibliometric analysis to 948 documents from Scopus and a qualitative reading of the 47 most structurally central studies, we identify eleven thematic clusters revealing the field's core concerns, including grassroots governance, the politics of informality, and community agency. More significantly, our analysis reveals a clear developmental trajectory, showing how scholarship has matured from foundational perspectives (early-2000s to late-2000s), through a 'critical turn' focused on power and dispossession (late-2000s to mid-2010s), to a recent phase of thematic diversification and integration (mid-2010s to the present). This structured overview clarifies key theoretical debates, particularly the tension between state-led formalization and the recognition of informalities. We identified critical research gaps, some related to the impacts of climate change and digital technologies on governance dynamics. Ultimately, our findings demonstrate the necessity of moving beyond technical solutions to embrace context-specific, participatory (e.g., citizen science), and rights-based approaches to urban governance.

Source: Urban Governance

DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2026.02.006

Authors: Donizete Beck, Sushobhan Majumdar

Institution: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas

Language: English

Topic: Urban and Rural Development Challenges

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500