Community and Neighbourhood in Egyptian Context, Case Formal and Informal Settlements - Cairo

Abstract

Abstract-in modern society due to means of communication we expect that local social ties do not play a role in neighbourhoods. This research examines social ties in relation with neighbourhood in Egyptian context. The research is based on evidence, observations and interviews with residents to understand local communities' ties, solidarity and integration in two different residential settlements: Formal that was planned by government and Informal that was built by community. By analysing processes, relations and networks in the two settlements exploration indicates that informal settlements kept the status of saved community with tight solidary ties moreover community use technology like internet to save local networks more than liberate them. On the other hand formal settlements residents social network are more liberated than kept on the local level. In both settlements built environment is impacting directly and indirectly local ties but on another level the formation process of informal settlement is also reason of strong network.Index Terms-Local communities, formal and informal settlements, community networks and ties, built environment.