Globalization, New Urban Governance and Participatory Planning in the Informal Settlements: True Neighborhoods Program, La Paz, Bolivia
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Carballo, Daniela
Abstract
Urban expansion in developing countries was characterized by the massive production of informal settlements. Several measures have been taken by local governments and foreign entities to upgrade living conditions in low-income neighborhoods. Citizen participation and partnerships with community based associations (CBOs) appear as the key components for neighborhood improvement programs. This research argues that globalization on the one hand, is the major cause for urban inequality especially in Latin American countries, since its economic reforms did not considered evenhanded growth and deducted importance from housing development policies. On the other hand, globalization is considered the context for decentralization, devolution, privatization policies and new governance. New urban governance encourages participation active citizen participation in the elaboration of urban policies.
Popular Participation in Bolivia brought in the scenery for municipal participatory planning, process that involves participation of neighborhood associations in the elaboration of municipal development plans. This research analyses the outcomes and obstacles of participatory planning in two levels. At municipal level, it analyzes political management of local governments. And, at community level, it studies a large-scale program of neighborhood improvement in La Paz, known as “True Neighborhoods Program” (Programa Barrios de Verdad).
The program is a top-down initiative, launched by the local government of La Paz and financed by two international agencies, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. This program aims to promote active citizen participation and regularize land tenure in one hundred informal settlements. Two neighborhoods (Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz and Alto Santiago Munaypata) were studied to illustrate citizen participation along the program. Both neighborhoods experienced different outcomes and obstacles. Differences are analyzed in the last chapter under three headings: community participation, political conflicts and leadership, and relationship between community and program’s staff.
Subjects
Globalization
urban exclusion
decentralization
citizen participation
participatory planning
La Paz
True Neighborhoods Program
Type
thesis
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