Developmental Paradigms and Politics of Eviction: A Case Study ofInformal Settlements in Sheger City, Ethiopia

Abstract

 The transformation of Sheger City into a “smart” urban hub has produced complex
social, legal, and ethical challenges, particularly for residents of informal
settlements. Drawing on data and legal analyses, the article examines the
theoretical underpinnings and socio-political consequences of the eviction of
informal settlements in Sheger City, Ethiopia. Using qualitative and quantitative
methods, the article analyses how far developmental frameworks, modernisation
theory, post-development theory, neoliberal development theory, and the rightsbased development approach shape the rationale for, and the critique of, eviction
practices. Findings reveal that forced evictions, often carried out without due
process, compensation, or resettlement, have displaced thousands of residents,
deepening poverty and vulnerability. Modernisation discourse has been mobilised
to justify large-scale demolitions, privileging technocratic, top-down planning
while marginalising low-income communities. Neoliberal frameworks further
facilitate “accumulation by dispossession,” clearing informal settlements to attract
private investment and global capital, thereby exacerbating inequality. Postdevelopment perspectives highlight the absence of participatory governance and
the silencing of local agency, as informal settlers are excluded from decisionmaking and denied tenure security. This article advances a human rights-based
approach to urban governance, emphasising security of tenure as a universal
entitlement under international law. Legal reform and policy innovation are
essential to bridge the gap between Ethiopia’s constitutional obligations and the
lived realities of informal settlers. Preventing and managing informal settlements
requires transparent land administration, participatory planning, and community
empowerment. By foregrounding human dignity, inclusion, and legal protections,
the article argues for alternative frameworks that challenge technocratic
rationalities and promote socially just urban transformation.