'Peace-kept' urbanism: Ephemerality and endurance in eastern DRC

Area of Science:

• Urban Studies
• Human Geography
• Peace and Conflict Studies

Background:

• United Nations peacekeeping operations often establish temporary settlements in urban areas.
• Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of these camps is crucial for humanitarian and urban planning efforts.
• Existing literature on southern and camp urbanism highlights the temporal aspects of built environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concepts of temporariness and permanence in relation to urbanism within peacekeeping camps.
• To investigate the spatio-temporal horizons that shape the existence and dissolution of these camps.
• To develop a theoretical framework for understanding urbanism in contexts of peacekeeping operations.

Main Methods:

• The study draws on literature from southern urbanism and camp urbanism.
• It employs an analysis of spatio-temporal horizons influencing camp formation and dissolution.
• Four empirical examples from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are used to illustrate key concepts.

Main Results:

• Peacekeeping camps exhibit complex temporal logics, characterized by both extended presence and the acknowledgment of an eventual end.
• These camps demonstrate overlapping temporalities, influencing their spatial configurations and the lived experiences within them.
• The concept of 'peace-kept' urbanism emerges, capturing the dual nature of ephemerality and endurance in these settlements.

Conclusions:

• 'Peace-kept' urbanism provides a novel lens for understanding dwelling arrangements in peacekeeping contexts.
• The study contributes to theories of urbanism by highlighting how settlements are continuously re-made across different temporal and spatial scales.
• Recognizing the fluctuating nature of these urbanisms is essential for future planning and intervention in post-conflict settings.