Informal Settlements and Urban Claims in South America

The expansion of South American cities during the 20th century resulted in the rapid proliferation of informal settlements. These communities emerged as a pivotal element in the discourse on urbanisation, garnering the attention of public policy makers. Various organisations emerged within these settlements, supported by trade unions, political parties, Catholic or Protestant churches, worship centres, recreational or neighbourhood associations. It is noteworthy that, in certain informal settlements and at specific historical junctures, urban demands and community associations have emerged. These movements have been observed to either remain within a localised context, dissipating rapidly, or evolve into more sustained cycles of protest and mobilisation, or metamorphose into more organised structures. This monographic issue seeks to unravel the intricate processes of politicisation that took place in the informal settlements of five South American cities during the period spanning from the conclusion of the Second World War to the 1970s. The introduction situates the research within the South American context, subsequently analysing the distinctive characteristics of each case and identifying overarching themes that serve as working hypotheses for future research.

Keywords: South America, Urban Informality, Urban Claims, Urban Social Movements, Community Organisations, Historiography.

Emanuel Giannotti, Rafael Soares Gonçalves, Insediamenti informali e rivendicazioni urbane in Sud America in "STORIA URBANA " 177/2024, pp 5-17, DOI: 10.3280/SU2024-177001