Camelôs, flanelinhas e os outros: privatização de espaços públicos

Abstract

This paper aims to bring to discussion a particular and relatively recent aspect of most of our big cities where, mainly after the 80's, we tend to find a large amount of people who occupies streets and places as trade spaces in town centers. Beyond the most visible results of this phenomenon related to the space occupancy, we argue that the way public spaces are used has a deeper meaning in terms of an actual privatization process of public spaces. In this way, this phenomenon has an impact on society in terms of a rupture between what is supposed to be public and what is supposed to be private. The relationship between public and private in our society still is very problematic and the private use of public spaces in our cities adds another layer on the subject. As a case study, it is analyzed the situation in Porto Alegre city center.