Urban public spaces are shaped not only by formal regulations and planning policies but also by informal norms and practices that govern everyday interactions. This study investigates the role of informal norms in the governance of public spaces in Cairo, Egypt, focusing on how daily social dynamics, tacit agreements, and localized customs influence the use, management, and negotiation of urban environments. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, and observational data, the research reveals how informal governance frameworks enable resilience, adaptability, and inclusion in contexts of limited formal oversight. However, they can also reproduce inequalities and contestations over access and authority. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how informal and formal modes of governance interact and shape the lived experience of urban public space.

Informal norms, public space governance, urban dynamics

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