From Dispossession to Resilience

Abstract

In the Anthropocene era, marked by significant human impact on Earth, the Global South faces deep spatial inequalities that necessitate rethinking urban planning. This study critiques capitalist urban development models that perpetuate “Accumulation by Dispossession” aggravating inequalities and depriving marginalised communities of essential rights and resources. Focusing on M-Ward East in Mumbai, India, where slum resettlement coexists with hazardous industries and inadequate infrastructure, this research examines collective spatial resistance as a survival strategy for marginalised communities.

Utilising Lefebvre's “right to the city”, the chapter explores how collective actions, despite lacking institutional support, emerge as resilience mechanisms against top-down approaches. Through preliminary fieldwork and secondary literature, this study discusses the challenges faced by marginalised communities in the Anthropocene and the transformative potential of collective resistance for achieving spatial justice.