Informal Marginalities in Constantine: Factors of Emergence and Trials for Restriction

Abstract

The urban territory of Constantine witnesses frequently an increased duality regarding territorial redefinition, displaying largely two forms of urban territoriality: one is produced within a legal framework (urban planning), the other is produced by popular genius and it is called "informal marginalities" (Bouteche and Lazri, 2015). Considering this logic of territorial composition inside the city, how did the authorities in place react against these informal marginalities (slums and precarious hard housing)? Based on the factors' analysis of the emergence of informal marginalities, we have tried, in this study, to display the efforts made by local authorities to cope with the growth of slums and precarious hard housing. The political, economic and social conditions through which the country has passed, as well as the failure of public authorities to fight and diminish informal marginalities are their generic mechanisms. Having a palliative and superficial feature, certain actions implemented within the framework of these public policies were judged as ineffective and had the perverse and even harmful consequences that we have observed.