'Choralogy’, a forward-looking concept

Jan Bogaert insists on the need to broaden the scale of intervention both in terms of time and space. ‘Too often we consider land as an unlimited resource. However, land resources are finite and limited just like water, energy or biodiversity. Without sufficient land, ecosystem services crucial to human beings are also threatened’. On this basis, the expert proposes a new discipline: that of ‘choralogy’. It is a new multidisciplinary approach based on the claim that land - the earth - is scarce and its use must be carefully considered. ‘From the viewpoint of Belgium or Europe, the concept of using land parsimoniously appears obvious’ recognises Jan Bogaert. ‘But it doesn’t appear to really penetrate into ways of thinking. Yet, the speed with which we use space has important consequences in terms of deforestation, overuse and desertification. In a period of stagnation in agricultural yields and when it is becoming more and more difficult to find new lands,  the capacity - or not - to feed the planet itself is at stake.’

The two researchers then develop one of the strongest messages of the publication: basic needs must be accounted for: not only the needs formulated by local authorities (trickling down from central government or inspired by tribal organisation), but also those of the populations themselves. In terms of town planning, the essence of the culturalist approach is to give great importance to local context, asking the population about its needs and involving them in the decision making process and the realisation of projects. ‘For example, why not take inspiration from river contracts, such as those developed notably in Wallonia’ suggests Jean-Marie Halleux. ‘The article in our publication on the application of this Walloon tool to Kinshasa shows that it’s possible to create areas for discussion and to encourage positive interactions between decision makers and the inhabitants’. Another inspiring example: in Caracas (Venezuela), a government initiative has led the public water company to interact with local committees to develop pipework in periurban areas. Not only is the water better distributed (to all strata of the population) but, moreover, the political representation in the periurban area has been improved, thanks to the created collective dynamics...

Not just helping with survival, helping with development

The two experts are not excessively optimistic, however: despite a few encouraging experiences such as these (and there are others mentioned in the book, including in Africa), much remains to be done and to be invented. It is simply that there are two major obstacles. ‘In the south, particularly in a country such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the immediate concern of 95% of the population consists of ensuring their survival until the next day’ observes Jan Bogaert. ‘In such context, these new participative governance strategies require availability and time. Try asking a father or the mother of eight children to take part in ten or fifteen meetings !’ The second pitfall is outlined by Jean-Marie Halleux: ‘Without even talking about prevarication or corruption, administrative or governance reforms by political representatives do not generally pay off in electoral or popularity terms with the population. These representatives generally feel themselves bound to present prestigious projects to the population, despite the fact that they are not necessarily well thought, constructed or mature enough to be effective in the long term.’ These two obstacles drive the researchers to lobby for a development aid policy which, in light of demographic changes and its implications for space, will have deep implications for countries in the south in terms of creating systems for pensions, social security, healthcare, unemployment, etc.

Building upon this strong cross-cutting conclusion, the publication, coordinated by two experts - one based in Liège, the other in Gembloux - is exemplary of an intensified collaboration between the ULg faculties and departments. A similar partnership has been established between the Liège University and the Ecole Régionale Post-Universitaire d'Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrée de Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux (ERAIFT), based in Kinshasa. Indeed, since the end of 2013, ULg’s 'Central Africa Platform', created by PACODEL, has been based here. ‘Many of our professors and researchers are already active in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kisangani and Bukavu as well as in Benin, Burundi and as far as Madagascar and Vietnam’ states Jan Bogaert, enthusiastically. ‘The periurban theme is a unique occasion to attract many more university staff, from all faculties without exception, to become active in the field of development cooperation. The platform will help us to strengthen our collaboration with universities in the south and to identify African students to come and study in Belgium. This is not only a scientific approach. It is also a way to serve the community, and to contribute to resolving some of the biggest challenges of the planet.'