The State in the face of Socio-Spatial Inequalities

from invalidation to protection mechanisms for poor communities in Recife

Abstract

This article analyzes how the issue of socio-spatial inequalities has been dealt with by the state, choosing as its analytical space the city of Recife, the core of a metropolis considered one of the most unequal in the country. It starts from the understanding that these inequalities are structured in three spheres of social relations - the state, the market, and society focusing on public policies for intervention and urban regulation in their relationship with the private real estate sector and the communities living in poverty areas. It highlights that, in Recife, socio-spatial inequality expresses itself by the proximity and contrast between real estate production related to the activities of the private sector and the numerous precarious settlements in the city's territory. As for the methods used, in addition to the bibliographical review on the central role of the State in confronting these inequalities, an empirical analysis was carried out based on theoretical, historical, and documentary references, focusing on urban legislation in Recife over time. Maps were also produced, portraying the spatial dimension of the dynamics investigated. The results highlights the identification of three emblematic moments, which demonstrates that the State's stance towards socio-spatial inequalities in Recife is close to formal and informal real estate production. It concludes that the most significant advances in tackling socio-spatial inequalities in this city were achieved when the poorest communities showed a higher degree of organization and articulation to influence urban management.