Latin American cities: between the realism and the utopia. Notes for a sociocultural urbanization study

Abstract

The increasing degradation of Latin American cities, in addition to the importance of urban environments and culture within the world context of globalization and postmodernism, has recently raised interest in analyses from different disciplines and has nourished current debates. In this process, the points of view of different experts, ranging from utopia to realism, are confronted. These positions are part of the approach of" order-disorder" dynamics and of the conflict of interests we see in cities. The critics of the utopian vision lead us to formulate new concepts and methods to interpret the urban processes within a realistic orientation, restoring real sense to the debates: to generate new knowledge that helps materialize the design of a fair city based on the social aspiration of a desirable and well-balanced urban environment. In this context and with this approach, the sociocultural urbanization concept is included in this investigation. It encourages research dedicated to discovering the cultural dimension of a city.