“The Importance of the Legal Approach in Socio-Urban Studies”

Abstract

This research problem addresses the city as a complex space of social, spatial, and legal interactions, arguing that traditional socio-urban studies are no longer sufficient to capture its complexity due to the dominance of mono-disciplinary approaches that separate social analysis from legal dimensions. The study starts from the assumption that law, particularly urban legislation, is not merely a technical regulatory tool, but a key actor in the production of urban space and in the reproduction of spatial inequalities and social relations

The relevance of this approach is particularly evident in the Algerian context, where an analysis of Law 90-29 on urban planning and its implementation instruments reveals a significant gap between legal texts and their practical application, as well as weak institutional coordination and sectoral fragmentation. This situation limits the effectiveness of urban law in addressing key urban issues such as informal housing, unplanned urban expansion, and spatial conflicts

Accordingly, the study aims to highlight the role of the legal approach within socio-urban analysis and its contribution to understanding urban space organization and achieving sustainable development. It emphasizes the need for an interdisciplinary framework that integrates urban sociology, law, planning, and geography. The study also discusses the main challenges hindering this integration, particularly weak law enforcement and the gap between legislation and reality.