Abstract
The aim and scope of the book are introduced in this chapter. This chapter provides an introductory and synopsis of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the global responses, especially lockdowns, have affected the urban poor. The central argument and broad theme guiding this book are that the policy interventions implemented to curb the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected the urban poor through loss of economic activities, lack of inclusion and consideration of their needs in policy formulation, and exacerbation of food insecurities. We illuminate four major socioeconomic impacts associated with COVID-19 lockdowns among the urban poor: the food security systems of poor urbanites who access food through the informal economy, closure of the informal sector, induced urban–rural migration, and strengthening of visible urban disparities between the poor and the rich. This chapter also discusses the digital ethnography method used to gather data for this book. The book’s structure is presented, giving an overview of the respective chapters.
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Notes
- 1.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Today, more than half the world’s population live in cities. By 2050, an estimated 7 out of 10 people will likely live in urban areas. Achieving SDG 11 is critical for promoting social and economic development, enhancing public health, mitigating climate change, ensuring disaster resilience, fostering social inclusion, and supporting sustainable consumption and production.
- 2.
The New Urban Agenda is a global agreement adopted by United Nations member states in 2016 at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III). It is a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable urban development that guides policies and actions for cities and human settlements to support the Sustainable Development Goals. The New Urban Agenda recognizes the important role that cities play in driving economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. It calls for an integrated and participatory approach to urban planning and development that involves all stakeholders, including local governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the general public.
- 3.
Remote ethnography (also known as “virtual ethnography,” “cyber ethnography,” “netnography,” or “mobile ethnography”) is a digital transformation of in-person ethnography and a form of online or remote ethnographic research. It leverages the power of technology—gadgets and the Internet—to help researchers generate contextual insights into the lived experiences of social groups remotely.
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Bhanye, J.I., Mangara, F., Matamanda, A.R., Kachena, L. (2023). Introduction. In: COVID-19 Lockdowns and the Urban Poor in Harare, Zimbabwe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41669-9_1
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