Latin American urban development into the twenty-first century: Towards a renewed perspective on the city

Rodgers, D., Beall, J. and Kanbur, R. (2011) Latin American urban development into the twenty-first century: Towards a renewed perspective on the city. European Journal of Development Research, 23(4), pp. 550-568. (doi: 10.1057/ejdr.2011.18)

Abstract

This article argues for a more systemic engagement with Latin American cities, contending that it is necessary to reconsider their unity in order to nuance the ‘fractured cities’ perspective that has widely come to epitomize the contemporary urban moment in the region. It begins by offering an overview of regional urban development trends, before exploring how the underlying imaginary of the city has critically shifted over the past half century. Focusing in particular on the way that slums and shantytowns have been conceived, it traces how the predominant conception of the Latin American city moved from a notion of unity to a perception of fragmentation, highlighting how this had critically negative ramifications for urban development agendas, and concludes with a call for a renewed vision of Latin American urban life.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rodgers, Professor Dennis
• Authors: Rodgers, D., Beall, J., and Kanbur, R.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: European Journal of Development Research
• Journal Abbr.: Eur. J. Dev. Res.
• ISSN: 0957-8811
• Published Online: 21 July 2011