In Pursuit of Self-Reliance and Self-Determination : A Study on Planning in Orania

Sammanfattning

Sub-Saharan Africa is the poorest region in the world and heavily relies on aid from organisations and other countries. At the same time, urban planning plays an integral part of shaping future development of towns, cities and regions. Therefore, this case study focuses on Orania, a town within South Africa that receives nothing in terms of funding or services from the government. It explores how and why Orania came to exist as an Afrikaner cultural town, how urban planning is conducted, and regarding this what strategies are being implemented to further help the community in its quest of becoming a sustainable and self-reliant city, all without state support. By conducting interviews with people in roles that in some way affect development in Orania, the thesis argues that Orania has laid a foundation for future growth through own institutions, organisations and regulatory documents guiding spatial development. Furthermore, it shows that solutions have been implemented allowing for lesser dependency on the state, and that Orania has the potential to contribute to the outside.