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Le capitali del Corno d’Africa prospettive storiche e proiezioni
Volterra, Alessandro
2025
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Abstract
The colonial era precipitated a structural transformation across Sub-Saharan Africa: the rise of cities. These urban centers functioned as epicenters of power, control, and exploitation. This article analyzes the structural role of the capitals in the Horn of Africa (Addis Ababa, Asmara, and Mogadishu) and demonstrates how they redefined the asym¬metric relationship with their rural hinterlands, laying the groundwork for current socioeconomic challenges. Colonial cities were typically characterized by rigid spatial segregation, as exemplified by Asmara, and were oriented toward an “extraction economy,” systematically draining human and material resources from the countryside. In contrast, the founding of Addis Ababa by Menelik II constituted an act of endogenous urbanization and a symbol of Ethiopian autonomy. Asmara stands as a prime example of Italian urban planning, featuring modernist and segregationist architecture. Mogadishu, a historic commercial hub, was transformed into a colonial capital and became the focal point of political transition during the Trusteeship Administration. This colonial legacy manifests today as a system of spatial disparities and a dualistic economy, necessitating a critical approach toward achieving more equitable urbanization.
L’età coloniale è stata portatrice di una trasformazione strutturale nell’Africa subsahariana: le città. Queste hanno assolto la funzione di epicentri del potere, del controllo e dello sfruttamento. L’articolo analizza il ruolo strutturale delle capitali del Corno d’Africa (Addis Abeba, Asmara e Mogadiscio) e come esse abbiano ridefinito il rapporto asimmetrico con l’entroterra rurale, creando le basi delle attuali sfide socioeconomiche. Le città coloniali erano caratterizzate da una rigida segregazione spaziale, come ad Asmara, ed erano orientate a quella che si potrebbe definire “economia di estrazione”, drenando risorse umane e materiali dalle campagne. In contrasto, la fondazione di Addis Abeba da parte di Menelik II fu un atto di urbanizzazione endogena e simbolo di autonomia etiope. Asmara è l’esempio di una pianificazione italiana con un’architettura modernista e segregazionista. Mogadiscio, antico centro commerciale, fu trasformata in capitale coloniale e centro della transizione politica durante l’Amministrazione Fiduciaria. L’eredità è un sistema di disparità spaziali ed economia dualistica che rende necessario un approccio critico per un’urbanizzazione più equa.
The colonial era precipitated a structural transformation across Sub-Saharan Africa: the rise of cities. These urban centers functioned as epicenters of power, control, and exploitation. This article analyzes the structural role of the capitals in the Horn of Africa (Addis Ababa, Asmara, and Mogadishu) and demonstrates how they redefined the asym¬metric relationship with their rural hinterlands, laying the groundwork for current socioeconomic challenges. Colonial cities were typically characterized by rigid spatial segregation, as exemplified by Asmara, and were oriented toward an “extraction economy,” systematically draining human and material resources from the countryside. In contrast, the founding of Addis Ababa by Menelik II constituted an act of endogenous urbanization and a symbol of Ethiopian autonomy. Asmara stands as a prime example of Italian urban planning, featuring modernist and segregationist architecture. Mogadishu, a historic commercial hub, was transformed into a colonial capital and became the focal point of political transition during the Trusteeship Administration. This colonial legacy manifests today as a system of spatial disparities and a dualistic economy, necessitating a critical approach toward achieving more equitable urbanization.
Publisher
EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste
Source
Alessandro Volterra, "Le capitali del Corno d’Africa prospettive storiche e proiezioni" in: "Futuribili. Rivista di studi sul futuro e di previsione sociale. 2024, n. 1/2, Vol. XXIX", EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, Trieste, 2025, pp. 217-237
Languages
it
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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14_Le capitali del Corno d’Africa prospettive storiche e proiezioni.pdf
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