Re-producing heterogeneous electricity constellations through governance: SDG7-induced changes and their local translations in Greater Maputo

Keywords: Infrastructure governance, global South, socio-technical heterogeneity, Maputo, translating ideals
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 27

Abstract

Recently, debates in Urban Geography have increasingly focused on hybrid and heterogeneous configurations of electricity service provision and use in sub-Saharan African cities. Until now, however, little attention has been paid to its governance aspects. This article presents how governance processes shape heterogeneous electricity constellations in diverse urban settings, building on the case of Greater Maputo (Mozambique). Urban infrastructural constellations are conceptualized as outcomes of the complex interplay of (changing) governance modalities. Such modalities describe the broad institutional and political mechanisms through which governance is pursued and policy outcomes are achieved. In the case study, key local actors are found to increasingly account for interests and service provision ideals conveyed through international agreements such as the SDGs. Their attempts to incorporate international level interests result in a shift towards managerial, performance-driven governance, reducing public interest aspects. This particularly disregards localized network and market-based modalities important for the functioning of existing socio-technical alternatives. ‘Novel’, SDG-focused governance approaches are thus disconnected from urban realities and unable to effectively tackle challenges like unequal service access, local air pollution, or resource inefficiency.

This article contributes to the emerging debates on heterogeneous urban infrastructures in Southern cities. Through the notion of translations, we better understand how local interpretations and adaptations of service ideals shape the (re-)production of heterogeneous infrastructural constellations in Southern cities. Translations demonstrate how powerful interests are navigated vis-à-vis local interests and modalities already governing heterogeneous urban infrastructures, which need more adequate attention in the process.