The Housing Movement and the Urban Poor in São Paulo

Agency, Structure, and Institutionalization

Ryohei Konta

This book explores the ways in which the urban poor population of Brazil participates in social movements. This study focuses on their agency, analyzing the interactive relationship between the urban poor in collective actions and the structural change represented by the participatory administration, which primarily saw implementation and institutionalization in Brazil at the beginning of the 21st century. Ryohei Konta argues that, as the structure of the participatory administration is more actively implemented and institutionalized, social movements will benefit from increased political opportunities. This result encourages the urban poor to participate in social movements as a means to realize their interests. Participation in social movements also stimulates their action with intention and capability (agency), which collectively interacts with the structure of increased opportunities (participatory administration), leading to self-fulfillment and more frequent participation in social movements. Scholars of sociology, Latin American studies, economics, social movements, and urban development will find this book particularly useful.

Lexington Books

Pages: 116 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-1-7936-1868-9 • Hardback • December 2019 • $104.00 • (£80.00)

978-1-7936-1869-6 • eBook • December 2019 • $98.50 • (£76.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Sociology / Urban, Social Science / Economic Geography, Social Science / Social Movements, History / Latin America / South America

The Housing Movement and the Urban Poor in São Paulo

Agency, Structure, and Institutionalization

Hardback

eBook

Summary

This book explores the ways in which the urban poor population of Brazil participates in social movements. This study focuses on their agency, analyzing the interactive relationship between the urban poor in collective actions and the structural change represented by the participatory administration, which primarily saw implementation and institutionalization in Brazil at the beginning of the 21st century. Ryohei Konta argues that, as the structure of the participatory administration is more actively implemented and institutionalized, social movements will benefit from increased political opportunities. This result encourages the urban poor to participate in social movements as a means to realize their interests. Participation in social movements also stimulates their action with intention and capability (agency), which collectively interacts with the structure of increased opportunities (participatory administration), leading to self-fulfillment and more frequent participation in social movements. Scholars of sociology, Latin American studies, economics, social movements, and urban development will find this book particularly useful.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 116 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-1-7936-1868-9 • Hardback • December 2019 • $104.00 • (£80.00)

978-1-7936-1869-6 • eBook • December 2019 • $98.50 • (£76.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Sociology / Urban, Social Science / Economic Geography, Social Science / Social Movements, History / Latin America / South America

Author

Ryohei Konta is senior overseas research fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies - Japan External Trade Organization.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Key Points of the Study

Chapter 1: Previous Studies on Social Movements

Chapter 2: Social Movements and Participatory Administration in Brazil

Chapter 3: Mutirão: a Participatory Housing Policy of, by, and for the Urban Poor

Chapter 4: Three Field Surveys on Urban Poor Participation in the Social Movements

Chapter 5: The Urban Elderly Poor’s Participation in Housing Movements

Chapter 6: Final Considerations

Reviews

This book demonstrates that the agency of the urban elderly poor does not disappear when the environment changes. They interact collectively and continuously with the changing structure. With their participation, the elderly poor become more empowered, and socially included, at the micro level.
— Maria da Glória Gohn, The University of Campinas