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What has been the role of politics within and around the community telecentres (TCs)? The background is the depoliticized international discourse that has accompanied ICT4D policies. The focus is on multi-purpose TCs run by non-governmental organizations, equipped with computers and internet connectivity, tasked to implement public ICT-to-the-poor policies. Specifically, the article discusses the differences of technical-social functionality of such TCs within the same country and policy context. The assumption is that empowerment, particularly of the local operating organization and its personnel, is a key factor. The strategy is to combine stakeholder and power analysis to assess the extent of empowerment by exploring a multi-dimensional framework for understanding power relations. Four TCs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were studied over a two-year period of repeated visits of intensive fieldwork of participatory observation and interviews. The research found that big differences existed between the TCs in terms of empowerment. Changes in power relations are necessary, although not sufficient, conditions for a community TC to function in the way desired. Moreover, three stages of empowerment are suggested, highlighting the Operating Organization, the TC manager/staff and the TC users, respectively. The article concludes by reflecting on the analytical-theoretical framework for power relations.

Within the BRICS countries, 'cities of exception' build coalitions of government and business in search of entrepreneurship opportunities. Sports combine image and accumulation, as well as the excuse to carry out pacification and removals of the population. In Rio, the World Cup and Olympic Games have generated a sort of an urban revolution, indicative of a social sense that even the poorest people have a 'Right to the City' and that class coalitions can improve society's chances against mega-events planners. ; publishedVersion

Introduction: situating the politics of slums within the "urban turn" -- National and urban contexts of the settlement cases : an overview -- Policies towards substandard settlements -- Settlement stories I: a question of knowledge? -- Knowledge and power in upgrading and resettlement initiatives -- Settlement stories II: communities responses -- Modalities of social mobilisation -- Conclusion

The report depicts the background and presents an overview of a programme of socio-territorial intervention, partially funded by the Norwegian Government through the EEA Financial Mechanisms. It also presents the situation analysis and progress of the programme in its three territorial units of implementation. A particular focal point is Cova da Moura outside Lisboa, where local voices are emphasized in the early assessment of the programme. Finally, challenges ahead are drawn up. Tilknyttet prosjekt Formative Dialogue on the Critical Urban Areas Programme in Portugal

"This collection offers a timely reassessment of viable ways of addressing poverty across the globe today. The profile of global poverty has changed dramatically over the past decade, and around three-quarters of the poor now live in middle income countries, making inequality a major issue. This requires us to fundamentally rethink anti-poverty strategies and policies, as many aspects of the established framework for poverty reduction are no longer effective. Featuring contributions from Latin America, Africa and Asia, this much-needed collection answers some of the key questions arising as development policy confronts the challenges of poverty and inequality on the global, national and local scale in both urban and rural contexts. Providing poverty researchers and practitioners with valuable new tools to address new forms of poverty in the right way, Poverty and Inequality in Middle Income Countries shows how a radical switch from aid to redistribution-based social policies is needed to combat new forms of global poverty"--Provided by publisher