EXCLUSION, VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION

Abstract

People, communities and nations are confronted with exclusion, vulnerability and adaptation. These are found across space and communities in different shades. They reflect the complexity of human societies and the imperfection of the various forces that define, shape and nurture human interactions. These phenomena are related (Nunes, 2021) and all have both vertical and horizontal dimensions. Their vertical dimension derives from their sectoral attribute in terms of economic, social and even political aspects while the horizontal dimension relates to their spatial manifestation. In addition, both exclusion and vulnerability are associated with similar causal factors of historical experiences (slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, postcolonial economic relations) and marginalising governance system including poor space and settlement governance.