AH challenge: Other Kowloon Walled Cities

[Hendryk]

From 1912 to 1994, Kowloon Walled City was an enclave in British-ruled Hong Kong where any form of government authority was almost entirely absent. It grew into a densely-populated city-within-the-city where anything went until it was finally razed and its inhabitants relocated.

This challenge is to come up with situations where, due to some quirk, an urban settlement gets to develop from the ground up without government oversight, the more populated the better. Any location is fine.

 

[Alex Richards]

I feel like Deshima could be a good case for this.

 

[d32123]

Kowloon Walled City was only possible because of Hong Kong's unique situation. You'd have to create a second Hong Kong like situation somewhere in the world (foreign ruled colony that becomes major port for massive region of hinterland) which is really hard to imagine. Maybe in a scenario where the British don't outright conquer India and just hold a major port or two?

 

[Dan1988]

Kowloon Walled City was only possible because of Hong Kong's unique situation. You'd have to create a second Hong Kong like situation somewhere in the world (foreign ruled colony that becomes major port for massive region of hinterland) which is really hard to imagine. Maybe in a scenario where the British don't outright conquer India and just hold a major port or two?

With some twisting of facts, one could try utilizing the French and Portuguese holdings on India for this.

 

[Markus Meecham]

From 1912 to 1994, Kowloon Walled City was an enclave in British-ruled Hong Kong where any form of government authority was almost entirely absent. It grew into a densely-populated city-within-the-city where anything went until it was finally razed and its inhabitants relocated.

This challenge is to come up with situations where, due to some quirk, an urban settlement gets to develop from the ground up without government oversight, the more populated the better. Any location is fine.

Go to india, kenya, south africa, brazil, mexico...
The walled city was special for it's architecture and the fact of it being in such an iconic place as hong kong. Urban areas where the state has no oversight and parallel powers appear are very, very common.
The quirk is just poverty, corruption and poor city planning.

 

[Alex Richards]

Go to india, kenya, south africa, brazil, mexico...
The walled city was special for it's architecture and the fact of it being in such an iconic place as hong kong. Urban areas where the state has no oversight and parallel powers appear are very, very common.
The quirk is just poverty, corruption and poor city planning.

Most places don't get to the height of Kowloon mind you.

 

[Bruno]

Kowloon Walled City was only possible because of Hong Kong's unique situation. You'd have to create a second Hong Kong like situation somewhere in the world (foreign ruled colony that becomes major port for massive region of hinterland) which is really hard to imagine. Maybe in a scenario where the British don't outright conquer India and just hold a major port or two?

Not really that unique, though. All you need is a chunk of land with uncertain political jurisdiction (literally whole swaths of such in the Middle East and Africa), a massive refugee and/or poor population (same again) and an indifferent/corrupt/useless central government (ditto).

Just need to have it be vaguely useful to various interested industries who need lots of workers, no questions asked or have it be a good hideout for various criminal types and you're golden.

Best way off the top of my head is to combine the Tower of David abandoned skyscraper in Caracas and the Ras Khamis neighbourhood in east Jerusalem scenarios together in some way.

 

[OHC]

The former mini-enclaves on the India-Bangladesh border seem like a potential candidate - from what I've read the residents were cut off from most government services and oversight. If there was urbanization, industrialization, and a corresponding rise in crime in the region, could they become "free cities"?

Of course India and Bangladesh had been working on a land swap for years, so maybe they'd speed up the process if the enclaves started causing trouble.

 

[Bruno]

The former mini-enclaves on the India-Bangladesh border seem like a potential candidate - from what I've read the residents were cut off from most government services and oversight. If there was urbanization, industrialization, and a corresponding rise in crime in the region, could they become "free cities"?

Of course India and Bangladesh had been working on a land swap for years, so maybe they'd speed up the process if the enclaves started causing trouble.

Alternatively, given that the two countries had a rather complicated relationship, it can also drag out the land swap even longer. Especially if the various enclaves' quasi-governments take pains to make sure they don't piss off either side.

Maybe they act as black market dealers for both sides, thereby assuring 'neutrality'?

 

[Hendryk]

Alternatively, given that the two countries had a rather complicated relationship, it can also drag out the land swap even longer. Especially if the various enclaves' quasi-governments take pains to make sure they don't piss off either side.

Maybe they act as black market dealers for both sides, thereby assuring 'neutrality'?

The situation could become self-perpetuating if the enclaves become such a mess that neither government wants to take responsibility for them.

 

[Francisco Cojuanco]

One of the French Indian loges or enclaves would be ideal. At least one was in the middle of Dhaka, thus, completely surrounded by a British Indian city.

 

[Doctor Sulemain]

Maybe something to do with West & East Berlin?