超越現代化理論僅僅只是描述西非都市化的現象,但卻無法解釋這些地區城鄉不均等發展的內部或外部機制,作者嘗試分析西非都市裡中產菁英的階級利益和西非在世界經濟體系中的位置,如何雙重影響了西非國家的都市化過程.

    作者認為西非的都市菁英(urban elite)從殖民母國承繼了殖民遺產(colonial legacies),並繼續維持西非的資本主義發展. 更進一步,都市菁英創造了一個複雜的”三重聯盟”(triple alliance),--包括了菁英本土資本,國家資本和國際資本--來穩定他們的支配與國家的發展. 在這樣的情況之下,全國的生產剩餘都投資到首都城市的基礎建設,以創造出一個現代化的氛圍(modern aura). 從邊緣地區大批的城鄉移民擁入資源與機會集中的首都,而這造成了都市首要化(urban primacy),城市內部不平等(intra-urban inequality)和過度都市化(overurbanization)的結果. 因為在一小群菁英和都市底層(urban masses)之間的物質資源分配是非常不平等的,因此非正式部門(informal sector)扮演了一個重要的角色功能,提供都市底層彈性而臨時的工作,並生產低成本的貨品和服務到正式部門(formal sector). 作者認為在邊陲資本主義社會(periphery capitalist societies)中的非正式部門的經濟活動和正式部門經濟是緊密地結合在一起的,並且連上了全球經濟體系. 經由世界體系(world system)的政治經濟學視野,作者提供我們一個清楚的圖繪,以了解大部份西非國家不均等都市化的機制與特質. 
　

Smith, David A.(1996), Dependency, Development, and Urbanization in West Africa, in Third World Cities in Global Perspective, Colorado: WestviewPress. Pp:47-74.

Beyond the modernization theory only describing the urbanization phenomenon of West Africa, but failing to explain the internal and external mechanism of the uneven urban-rural development in these areas, the author tries to analysis how the class interests of the powerful urban elites and the dependent position of West Africa in the world economic system both influences this urbanization process in West Africa. He argues that the urban elites inherit the colonial legacies from the colonizers and maintain capitalist development in West Africa, moreover, they create a complex “triple alliance” between elite local capital, international capital, and state capital to stabilize their dominance and national development. In this situation, surpluses from the entire country are invested in the infrastructure construction of the capital city in order to create a “modern” aura. The large flows of migrants from periphery area move to capital where the resources and opportunities are concentrated, and this brings about the consequences of urban primacy, intra-urban inequality and overurbanization. Since the allocation of material wealth, including housing, education and job opportunities between a small group of elites and urban masses is very unequal, the informal sector play a important functional role to provide the flexible and casual works to the urban masses, then produce low cost goods and services to the formal sector. The author thinks that the informal sector economic activities are integrated closely with the formal economy in periphery capitalist societies, and linked to the world economy. Through the political economy of the world-system perspective, the author shows us a clear picture to realize the uneven urbanization characteristic of most West African countries.