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The City as a Weapon: Producing space through conflict in Santiago, Chile

Fernandes Rodrigues, Leonardo LU (2021) SGEM08 20211
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
The idea of Chile as a “miracle” of neoliberal reform has been extensively confronted since October of 2019 in a large wave of protests throughout the country, by a vast majority feeling excluded from its benefits. Despite this conflict (known as the “Estallido Social”, or “Social Outbreak”) occurring exclusively in cities, previous analyses do not explicitly address the role of urban space in this process. This analysis regards Santiago’s urban space as an active element of the protests, a “weapon” per se, that both shapes and
is shaped by the actions and decisions of both protestors and authorities. It frames Santiago as both a strategic element of Chilean neoliberal reforms and the site and object for urban social movements in the... (More)
The idea of Chile as a “miracle” of neoliberal reform has been extensively confronted since October of 2019 in a large wave of protests throughout the country, by a vast majority feeling excluded from its benefits. Despite this conflict (known as the “Estallido Social”, or “Social Outbreak”) occurring exclusively in cities, previous analyses do not explicitly address the role of urban space in this process. This analysis regards Santiago’s urban space as an active element of the protests, a “weapon” per se, that both shapes and
is shaped by the actions and decisions of both protestors and authorities. It frames Santiago as both a strategic element of Chilean neoliberal reforms and the site and object for urban social movements in the country. Drawing from Lefebvre’s ideas of the city, in terms of centrality and mediation, I expose the different ways in how urban space is used and appropriated between the center and periphery of Santiago. The creation of urban space through conflict largely happens through the creation of place. The key example examined is Plaza Dignidad, with significant symbolic value embedded in its location, locale, and sense of place. (Less)
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author
Fernandes Rodrigues, Leonardo LU
supervisor
organization
course
SGEM08 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
social production of space, critical urban theory, Santiago de Chile, Estallido Social, semiotics
language
English
id
9063871
date added to LUP
2021-08-26 13:59:25
date last changed
2021-08-26 13:59:25
@misc{9063871,
  abstract     = {{The idea of Chile as a “miracle” of neoliberal reform has been extensively confronted since October of 2019 in a large wave of protests throughout the country, by a vast majority feeling excluded from its benefits. Despite this conflict (known as the “Estallido Social”, or “Social Outbreak”) occurring exclusively in cities, previous analyses do not explicitly address the role of urban space in this process. This analysis regards Santiago’s urban space as an active element of the protests, a “weapon” per se, that both shapes and 
is shaped by the actions and decisions of both protestors and authorities. It frames Santiago as both a strategic element of Chilean neoliberal reforms and the site and object for urban social movements in the country. Drawing from Lefebvre’s ideas of the city, in terms of centrality and mediation, I expose the different ways in how urban space is used and appropriated between the center and periphery of Santiago. The creation of urban space through conflict largely happens through the creation of place. The key example examined is Plaza Dignidad, with significant symbolic value embedded in its location, locale, and sense of place.}},
  author       = {{Fernandes Rodrigues, Leonardo}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The City as a Weapon: Producing space through conflict in Santiago, Chile}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}