Papers by William Monteith
Antipode, 2025
Antiwork praxis has experienced something of a resurgence in the wake of the global financial cri... more Antiwork praxis has experienced something of a resurgence in the wake of the global financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the radical potential of antiwork theory and politics is currently limited by its centring of the histories and subjectivities of (post-)Fordist wage workers in the Global North. In response, this article argues that a project of "reworlding" antiwork politics is necessary both to extend the antiwork critique by tracing work's association with other processes of dehumanisation, and to expand the postwork imaginary through an engagement with diverse and divergent ways of living otherwise. Following a sympathetic critique of the existing antiwork scholarship, it introduces three strategies for reworlding antiwork politics inspired by the postcolonial and Black radical traditions: provincialising the wage; reckoning with living alternatives; and nurturing divergent forms of organisation.
Political Geography, 2025
This article examines the role of European port authorities in assembling the green hydrogen fron... more This article examines the role of European port authorities in assembling the green hydrogen frontier through the production of speculative connections with prospective hydrogen export zones in the global South. Specifically, it analyses the role of a particular discursive tool, the pre-feasibility report, in fixing the meaning of Namibian territory for the purposes of green hydrogen export, disembedding hydrogen products from the social, political and ecological bases of their production. We argue that the green hydrogen frontier is fundamentally a speculative project insofar as it both accentuates the productive indeterminacy of green hydrogen as an energy commodity and develops a series of discursive strategies designed to measure, map and capture the anticipated value of this commodity. The article's findings advance geographical debates on energy, territory and speculation by demonstrating the role of the port authority-an under-researched actor in the literature on energy transitions-in the reimagination and transformation of littoral territories in the global South.
Work, Employment and Society, 2024
Structural labour shortages have increased demand for skilled and documented migrant workers in W... more Structural labour shortages have increased demand for skilled and documented migrant workers in Western European labour markets. In response, private recruitment agencies are playing a more significant role in the identification, placement and integration of migrant workers. While the literature on labour intermediation practices has largely focused on the commercial and contractual work of matching workers with employers, this article develops an embedded understanding of labour intermediation that foregrounds the increasingly social and relational nature of intermediation practices in contexts of labour shortage. Through a qualitative study of intermediation in the Belgian construction sector, the article demonstrates the ways in which private agencies seek to produce the 'right candidate' through (i) the infiltration of migrant networks, (ii) the regularisation of migrant workers and (iii) the facilitation of their integration into host societies. These findings advance an expanded understanding of labour intermediation that transcends the conventional matchmaking process.
This thesis generates an account of life in a marketplace in Kampala, Uganda, through an ethnogra... more This thesis generates an account of life in a marketplace in Kampala, Uganda, through an ethnographic engagement with its vendors, traders, hawkers, transporters and service providers. It traces the development of Nakasero market from a colonial facility to a dense assemblage of products, peoples and practices from across Uganda and the broader region. Faced with the challenge of getting along amid ongoing processes of social, economic and political change, I argue that people in the market invest considerable time and energy in relationships and associations, drawing together ideas and practices from institutions with long histories in Kampala and Buganda. Nakasero market has been witness to many of the political and economic disturbances of postcolonial Uganda: from the Asian expulsion and the magendo (black market) of the 1970s, to the structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) and privatisation initiatives of the 1990s. However, rather than being passive recipients of these events,...
Antipode, 2021
A growing literature demonstrates the significance of aesthetics within processes of world-class ... more A growing literature demonstrates the significance of aesthetics within processes of world-class city making, as decisions about who gets to live and work in the city are increasingly made on the basis of codes of appearance. However, less attention has been paid to how such codes are (re)produced and (re)directed by informal workers and their organisations in everyday practice. Drawing upon a multisided ethnography in Kampala and Delhi, this paper explores the ways in which market vendors and waste collectors have responded to the proliferation of three aesthetic technologies: the identity card, the uniform, and the code of conduct. We show that workers have appropriated these technologies in creative ways in order to defend their livelihoods against the threat of displacement. However, this act of appropriation has come at the cost of the exclusion of the more vulnerable workers, who now find their activities policed not only by the state but also by a range of non-state organisations. These findings contribute to debates on labour organisation and world-class city making by demonstrating the ways in which aesthetic rationalities emerge through an encounter with the tactics of everyday life.
Critical African Studies
View related articles View Crossmark data 'Don't you want us to eat?': the moral economy of a Uga... more View related articles View Crossmark data 'Don't you want us to eat?': the moral economy of a Ugandan marketplace 'Ne voulez-vous pas que nous mangions?': L'économie morale d'un marché ougandais
Africa, 2021
This article explores the question ofwhat happenswhen highly socialized and con- tingent forms of... more This article explores the question ofwhat happenswhen highly socialized and con- tingent forms ofprovisioning go wrong, and young men are forced to start again in unfamiliar urban contexts. The decline of George Mirembe’s moneylending busi- ness in Kampala pre-empted his departure from the country and his arrival in Nairobi in search of new socio-economic opportunities. Lacking the documents and language skills necessary to enter formal sectors of the economy, George claimed asylum as a sexual refugee while working as a smuggler and a voice actor in the shadow film industry. His activities illustrate the advantages and lim- itations of the hustle as a framework for understanding the activities of trans- national ‘others’ in African cities. I argue that translational practices of acting and storytelling have become a generalized tactic of survival among migrants in
urban East Africa. Such practices are illustrative of a form of ‘uprooted hustle’ – or hustling on the move – that is oriented towards individual survival and exit rather than place-based transformation.
Re-thinking 'work' from the global South
Futures of Work, 2020
Social Im/mobilities in Africa: Ethnographic Approaches, 2019
Geoforum, 2019
Female entrepreneurship has become a key policy focus of governments and development agencies in ... more Female entrepreneurship has become a key policy focus of governments and development agencies in the global South, reifying the figure of the independent businesswoman. This article advances debates on the relationship between entrepreneurship and family through a longitudinal study of the experiences of female entrepreneurs in Kampala, Uganda. Drawing on a four-year panel of life history interviews, we demonstrate the value of an ‘entrepreneurial life course’ perspective for understanding the ways in which social and familial relations facilitate female entrepreneurship at certain junctures and restrict it at others. This perspective contributes to the literature on social embeddedness by foregrounding the temporal dimension of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it illustrates the volatilities that characterise entrepreneurial life in urban African settings, challenging linear understandings of the entrepreneurial cycle that are based on the historical experiences of entrepreneurs in the global North.
African marketplaces have long been understood as ambivalent spaces; as sites of compliance and t... more African marketplaces have long been understood as ambivalent spaces; as sites of compliance and transgression, domination and resistance. This ambivalence comes into sharp focus in the urban marketplaces that have absorbed a large proportion of the African workforce over the past four decades. One the one hand, urban markets offer opportunities for the forging of new relationships, or ‘fictive kin’, beyond the confines of consanguinity and affinity. However, on the other hand, they are fiercely competitive places in which strangers skilfully intrude into one’s life. Succeeding in the market therefore requires the striking of a skilful balance between accumulation and redistribution, disclosure and concealment. This article presents an analysis of the everyday interactions and exchanges facilitated by the movements of a waste picker in Nakasero market, the oldest marketplace in Kampala, Uganda. Amid the current emphasis on improvization and provisionality as key features of urban African life, it demonstrates the importance of long-standing cultural idioms, such as omutima (‘heart’), in providing structure and meaning to the interactions of urban African inhabitants.
Although small in number, indigenous urban settlements were of
substantial social, cultural and p... more Although small in number, indigenous urban settlements were of
substantial social, cultural and political significance in precolonial
Africa. However, many studies of urbanisation on the continent
begin with colonisation. As a result, scholars have tended to
overemphasise the influence of the colonisers, precluding an
analysis of the ability of indigenous populations to resist, reimagine
and remake colonial visions of urban life. This paper examines the
historical relationship between the Baganda people and the
Ugandan capital. Kampala was planned as the commercial centre
of British colonial enterprise in Uganda; however, it developed in a
region with an indigenous history of urban settlement. The Kibuga
– the capital of Buganda and seat of the king – was once the most
populous urban agglomeration in the East African interior. Drawing
upon a combination of archival research, life history interviews and
an ethnographic study of a central marketplace, I argue that while
many of the categories and divisions of colonial rule are still visible
in Kampala, the Baganda have engaged in collective subjective
practices to reimagine and remake urban life, centered on the role
of the monarchy. These practices illustrate both the opportunities
and limitations of ‘indigenous urbanism’ as a response to the
historical subjugation of indigenous populations.
City: Analysis of urban trends, culture, theory, policy, action, 2017
The practice of ethnography in the global south has been the subject of various critiques that en... more The practice of ethnography in the global south has been the subject of various critiques that encourage researchers to reflect on the complex issues of ethics, positionality and inequality. These issues are arguably particularly complex in urban settings such as the municipal mar- ketplace, where a multitude of moral frameworks are in circulation, and where relationships and obligations are under constant observation. They raise a number of questions of the urban ethnographer: Whose framework counts when it comes to the estimation of obli- gations? To what extent is it useful to think of a single set of obligations to a disparate and diverse group of participants? And what role (if any) can ethnography play in respond- ing to the live threats faced by marginalised urban populations, such as those of impoverish- ment and displacement? This paper responds to these questions by drawing on the author’s experience of ethnography in a marketplace in Kampala, Uganda. It argues that while there has been a tendency for scholars to take up a priori positions on the role of ethnography in the global south, the ethical relationship between ethnographer and interlocutor emerges only in the face-to-face encounter. In the case of Nakasero market, people place value on discreet acts of assistance and care; acts that demonstrate one’s ‘heart’ in an environment characterised by moral anxiety.
An estimated 60 per cent of the world's 17 million refugees currently reside in cities, where the... more An estimated 60 per cent of the world's 17 million refugees currently reside in cities, where they often lack access to financial assistance and legal protection. In their absence, displaced populations depend on participation in formal and, more frequently, informal markets for livelihood generation. However, little is known about how refugees enter these markets, how they fare in relation to host populations and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and how municipal and humanitarian actors might intervene to improve their outcomes. This paper examines the participation of refugee and IDP populations in markets in Kampala – the capital of a country with one of the largest refugee populations in the world. It investigates the experiences of Acholi, Somali and Congolese populations in the paper bead, bitenge fabric and cosmetics markets, respectively. Considerable diversity is found in the experiences of these different populations, relating to their access to basic services, supply chains, and diasporic networks.
The aim of this ESRA was to review and synthesise evidence on research methods from the portfolio... more The aim of this ESRA was to review and synthesise evidence on research methods from the portfolio of research funded through the Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation in order to draw out commonalities and contrasts, assess the research’s existing and potential contribution to the overall scheme’s aims, and identify key gaps for consideration in the development of future scheme research calls. In doing so it supports the scheme’s objective of improving the quality of social science for development and increasing its diversity. The review focuses on DFID-ESRC’s priorities of promoting greater attention to and reporting of methodology, investing in a diversity of methods, and encouraging multi/interdisciplinary research.
There is growing interest in the ability of the informal sector to provide gainful work in much o... more There is growing interest in the ability of the informal sector to provide gainful work in much of the developing world. However, the literature on work in the informal sector remains dominated by resource-and rights-based approaches, which fail to consider the features of work valued by informal workers themselves. This article investigates perceptions of 'good work' based on focus group discussions with informal workers in the capitals of Uganda, Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka. Using the capability approach as a framework, it reveals that informal workers value a combination of instrumental features of work, such as income and working hours, and intrinsic aspects, such as relationships and recognition. The article's findings contribute to debates on quality of work in formal and informal contexts by illustrating the role of social and environmental conversion factors, including gender and class relations, in mediating the relationship between work and well-being.
Informal systems of governance in Africa are being reshaped as they come into contact with govern... more Informal systems of governance in Africa are being reshaped as they come into contact with governments, donors and businesses seeking new ways of accessing and regulating informal activities. In 2012, amidst violent confrontations, the Kampala City Council Authority took over the management of Nakasero Market from a group of vendors. The takeover marked the end of a ten-year cycle during which the market was managed by the city council, private contractors, the vendors themselves and the council once more. Drawing on interviews, observations and secondary material gathered over twelve months of fieldwork, this article presents an analysis of the different actors and mechanisms involved in the governance of Nakasero, and the implications of these changes on everyday life in the market. It argues that while vendors have been able to demonstrate agency in the battle for the management of the market, external political and economic interests have conspired to create internal instability and division, distancing people within the market from the decisions that threaten its future.
Disciplining the market: The structure and function of governance in a Ugandan marketplace
It is now well established that markets in Africa have many purposes beyond the economic (see e.g... more It is now well established that markets in Africa have many purposes beyond the economic (see e.g Bohannan & Dalton, 1962; Guyer & Hansen, 2001; Lindell, 2010). They serve important functions as networks of communication, hubs of social interaction, and valuable political arenas in which control is sought over both people and goods. However, the precise character and organisation of these various functions is dependent on the structures of governance in place in individual markets. These structures comprise both formal rules and regulations and informal institutional practices.
This paper explores the structure and function of governance in Nakasero Market in Kampala, Uganda, through an examination of the role of the market disciplinary committee. It draws upon thirty months of archival records detailing all of the cases heard by the committee during its lifetime (2009-2012) to present an analysis of the different rules, procedures and actors involved in upholding discipline in the market. This analysis is revealing insofar as it informs us about a) typical disputes and transgressions in the market and the types of people involved, b) processes and sanctions used to resolve these issues and prevent their reoccurrence, and c) the notion of order promoted in the market and the social norms on which this rests.
Participant Observation in Urban Arenas: Uncovering Hidden Rules in a Ugandan Marketplace
Drawing upon methodological insights acquired from 10 months of fieldwork in a market in Uganda, ... more Drawing upon methodological insights acquired from 10 months of fieldwork in a market in Uganda, this case explores the merit of using participant observation in studies investigating social rules and norms. The reflections provided in this case are derived from a research project investigating the moral economy of an urban vendors market in Kampala. I open the case by providing a brief overview of my research, and the broader function of participant observation in research design. Following this, I provide examples of the benefits and challenges of participant observation, based on my fieldwork in Kampala. Finally, I conclude the case by providing a list of practical lessons for researchers thinking of using participant observation in their work, followed by a series of exercises and discussion questions.
Perceptions of ‘Good Work’ in the Informal Urban Economy: Evidence from Burkina Faso, Uganda and Sri Lanka
The quality of people’s work is widely regarded to be fundamental to personal autonomy, self-resp... more The quality of people’s work is widely regarded to be fundamental to personal autonomy, self-respect, and social participation. These factors – influenced by local understandings of the value of different forms of work – are of high relevance to social mobility and ultimately, well-being. In many developing countries the majority of the workforce is employed in the so-called informal sector. However, despite the growing literature on quality of work, and the commitment of the ILO’s ‘decent work’ initiative to non-formal forms of employment, scholars continue to focus on ‘procedural’ characteristics of work - such as income and tenure - commonly associated with formal employment. Few attempts have been made to investigate the subjective experiences and perceptions of informal employees and entrepreneurs.
Drawing upon the findings of 13 focus group discussions, this paper examines perceptions of ‘good work’ - and experiences of work in general - in the urban informal economies of Burkina Faso, Uganda and Sri Lanka. Adopting Sen’s Capability Approach, we show how people’s perceptions of work are connected with their family obligations, social relations and socio-economic context.
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Papers by William Monteith
urban East Africa. Such practices are illustrative of a form of ‘uprooted hustle’ – or hustling on the move – that is oriented towards individual survival and exit rather than place-based transformation.
substantial social, cultural and political significance in precolonial
Africa. However, many studies of urbanisation on the continent
begin with colonisation. As a result, scholars have tended to
overemphasise the influence of the colonisers, precluding an
analysis of the ability of indigenous populations to resist, reimagine
and remake colonial visions of urban life. This paper examines the
historical relationship between the Baganda people and the
Ugandan capital. Kampala was planned as the commercial centre
of British colonial enterprise in Uganda; however, it developed in a
region with an indigenous history of urban settlement. The Kibuga
– the capital of Buganda and seat of the king – was once the most
populous urban agglomeration in the East African interior. Drawing
upon a combination of archival research, life history interviews and
an ethnographic study of a central marketplace, I argue that while
many of the categories and divisions of colonial rule are still visible
in Kampala, the Baganda have engaged in collective subjective
practices to reimagine and remake urban life, centered on the role
of the monarchy. These practices illustrate both the opportunities
and limitations of ‘indigenous urbanism’ as a response to the
historical subjugation of indigenous populations.
This paper explores the structure and function of governance in Nakasero Market in Kampala, Uganda, through an examination of the role of the market disciplinary committee. It draws upon thirty months of archival records detailing all of the cases heard by the committee during its lifetime (2009-2012) to present an analysis of the different rules, procedures and actors involved in upholding discipline in the market. This analysis is revealing insofar as it informs us about a) typical disputes and transgressions in the market and the types of people involved, b) processes and sanctions used to resolve these issues and prevent their reoccurrence, and c) the notion of order promoted in the market and the social norms on which this rests.
Drawing upon the findings of 13 focus group discussions, this paper examines perceptions of ‘good work’ - and experiences of work in general - in the urban informal economies of Burkina Faso, Uganda and Sri Lanka. Adopting Sen’s Capability Approach, we show how people’s perceptions of work are connected with their family obligations, social relations and socio-economic context.