Towards a Theoretical Exploration of the Differential Urbanisation Model in Sub‐saharan Africa: The Botswana Case

Abstract

This paper investigates the extent to which the differential urbanisation model is applicable to Botswana by using empirical data obtained from periodic censuses, supportive documentary information and observations from personal on-going research on urbanisation and migration. Differential urbanisation refers to the cyclic spatio-temporal growth trends that the elements of human settlement hierarchies undergo, in response to migration. Empirical studies have verified the validity of differential urbanisation in the United States, Europe, India and South Africa. These areas, unlike Botswana, have longer histories of urbanisation, larger population sizes, denser population distributions, and higher levels of economic development. Current research interest is focused on investigating the theoretical applicability of the differential urbanisation model to those countries at the lower end of the economic development spectrum. The rationale and thrust of this paper is to therefore investigate the relevance of differential urbanisation under unique environmental, demographic and socio-economic conditions that pertain to Botswana. Evidence from the paper shows that urbanisation in Botswana has occurred in sequenced phases that, in general, resemble those suggested by the differential urbanisation model in the following ways. First, there has been concentration in the primate city due to mainstream migration. Secondly, there has been fission leading to the fast growth of the adjacent intermediate settlements, partly as a result of deglomeration economies at the primate core accompanied by substream migration. Third, the peripheral regional and rural centres appear to be now growing relatively rapidly, in response to the implementation of decentralisation policies. Copyright (c) 2006 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.

Urban Growth in the National Capital Region of India: Testing the Differential Urbanisation Model

“…Since then, the concept has been further tested and applied under varying circumstances in different parts of the world and at different levels of spatial aggregation (Mitchell 2004; Tammaru et al . 2004; Abe 2005; Gwebu 2006; Campuzano 2006; Kontuly & Tammaru 2006; Suarez & Delgado 2006; Ourednicek 2007; Champion 2008; Dangschat & Giffinger 2008).…”

Botswana's mining path to urbanisation and poverty alleviation

“…Figure 4 compares the quite marked differences in spatial growth between the three decades illustrating Perroux's (1970, 94) observations that: 'growth does not appear everywhere at the same time; it becomes manifest at points or poles of growth, with variable intensity; it spreads through different channels, with variable terminal effects within the whole economy'. Population concentration started with the primate city, Gaborone, and subsequently spread outwards with a ripple effect, first to the nearby intermediate centres and then to those farthest out, before reaching the smallest ones (Gwebu 2006).…”

“…Gwebu (2006) investigated the role of mining settlements in the context of a differential urbanisation model and Botswana's unique environmental, demographic and socio-economic conditions between 1981 and 1991. Most recently, Ntsabane et al (2010) have examined the economic and environmental impacts of the Jwaneng diamond mine on the residents of the town and its surroundings, showing that while the mine has generated a new township, infrastructure and town-bound migration, it has failed to induce development in the smaller villages of the Southern District.…”

5 - Moderating Poverty: The Role of Remittances from Migration in Botswana

“…Before 1991, rural localities in Botswana were considered villages or large villages, depending on population size. By parliamentary Act, the large villages were reclassified as urban if, in addition to a threshold population of 5,000, 75% of the labour force was employed in non-agricultural sectors (Gwebu 2006). Almost half of the migrants went to the capital city (Gaborone).…”