The city in the neoliberal crossroads. Urbanism market-centric and socio-spatial inequality in Latin America

Abstract

In light of the contributions of many researchers, I propose to discuss in this article, what has been booming termed as the neoliberal city. A revamped and remodeled city, thought and redesigned by and for the market, where strategic projects as single thought, redefine the meaning of the urban. The political, economic and socials changes, are objectified in the space, accompanied by an architectural pragmatism that produces and re-creates new urban materialities, residential, commercial, leisure, of more class character. I argue that the legislation regulates and divides, the real estate market speculates and intervenes, the disadvantaged sectors are displaced, and the investment and disinvestment are concretize in different socio-spatial areas. The city is restructured and the old spatial form is annihilated when undertaking strong re-investment projects in areas considered impaired. Urban environments beautified, of landscape views, modern, highly equipped, creative, etc., became consolidated as the visible face of the city, and establish aesthetic precepts that camouflages and legitimizes the unequal action of neoliberal urbanism.

Keywords:
Real-estate market; Town planning; Displacement; Social class