Urban inequalities and segregation in Montevideo

The Paper illustrates the interrelationship between urban inequalities and segregation in Montevideo. The analysis is based on an atypical city in Latin America that despite its past "Welfare State" background, during recent years, has been inserted in the context of restructuring, privatization and social inequalities. On this regard, it is an interesting "case study", to integrate for comparative analysis.

The research findings presented contribute to the analysis of social processes, considering trends from statistical data and analysis, as well as the perception and images of the city from the local actors, related to the "subjective construction of the city". Both perspectives are necessary to study the fragmented social and spatial map. The analysis shows that Montevideo and its Metropolitan Area configure a heterogeneous society, which includes neighborhoods and areas with specific patterns and dynamics.

Although Montevideo is not a global city, it is interesting to remark - as shows comparative research - , findings that indicate an increase in social inequalities within the urban space, with a heterogeneous social structure and an increase of middle classes in the peripheral areas (Taschner, Bogus 2001, Preteceille, Cardoso 2008, Leal, Veiga 2008, Koch, Valdes 2008).

The trends show that both poor and upper classes are established in homogenous social spaces, while the middle classes are scattered throughout the city. This reflects the influence of economic restructuring and labor changes, new family roles, cultural and consumption patterns, which induce diverse stratification cleavages, particularly among the middle classes, and their spatial differentiation. In the case of Montevideo it is found that both social indicators analysis and qualitative study match these trends. In sum, this Paper will examine the social composition of urban segregated areas and its changes over time, reviewing the role of global forces in these socio-spatial transformations.