Unwritten Agreements on the Daily Urban Governance of Open Public Spaces: Insights from Cairo, Egypt

Open public space (OPS) shapes and defines cities. These spaces support public service provision and facilitate public life by providing opportunities for activities and interactions. As a common good shared among inhabitants, decision-makers, and landowners, OPS creates a stage where they can perform their non-private lives on a daily basis. The outcomes of negotiations and compromises between different actors impact social welfare. In many cities in the Global South, longstanding urban governance practices lead to segregation, inequality, and injustice. Scholars debate about what constitutes good urban governance practices. However, the majority of studies are contextualized in the Global North and fall short in addressing aspects such as informality. This research aims to contribute to the debate and understanding of the role and involvement of citizens in securing, managing, and developing OPS. Using a case study of an ordinary street in the neighborhood of Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt, this study explores the relationship between OPS and urban governance. Field observations were conducted and systematized using a thematic analysis approach. Semi-structured interviews with different actors complemented the qualitative analysis and addressed information gaps. The primary findings show that, despite the absence of a formal mechanism to participate in the decision-making process, the users of OPS make many decisions on a day-to-day basis that, to a certain extent, define the urban environment. The research highlights the different strategies, interests, and resources that users employ to interact with others in an arena permeated by conflicts, contestations, and collaborations. The discussion section addresses the potential and challenges for alternatives regarding popular participation in managing and planning cities of the Global South. Finally, the research draws guidelines to align the findings with the urban governance agenda.