Latin America is known for being the most urbanized region in the world, but within its cities, there are areas called disamenity zones. These zones are characterized by substandard housing, often inhabited illegally with makeshift dwellings made from materials like tin, woven mats, and cardboard.
These areas lack proper services and amenities, creating challenging living conditions for the urban poor.
Definition of Disamenity Zones
The term "disamenity zones" was coined by geographers Griffin and Ford in a 1980 article as part of their model of Latin American city structure. Disamenity zones refer to areas with a lack of desirable features or amenities.
These zones often experience urban decay, blight, and environmental degradation. They are contrasted with "amenity zones," which are characterized by positive attributes like good schools, parks, low crime rates, and appealing surroundings.
Disamenity Zones and Zones of Abandonment
The Griffin-Ford Model introduced the concept of disamenity zones and zones of abandonment, which are significant spatial components of Latin American urban areas.
These zones are often referred to disparagingly as slums, ghettos, favelas, or inner-city areas. However, they are found in urban areas worldwide. This article focuses specifically on the conditions in Latin American cities.
Disamenity zones can be found both within the city limits and in the surrounding areas. The outskirts of Latin American cities are often occupied by squatter settlements, composed of dwellings created by rural-to-urban migrants.
These settlements may be located in areas where building permits are not granted, such as floodplains, steep slopes, or alongside highways. These zones are known as zones of abandonment, as they are the most environmentally marginal places in urban areas.
Growth of Disamenity Zones
The rapid growth of disamenity zones in Latin American cities can be attributed to several factors. In the mid-20th century, various push and pull factors accelerated this process.
Push Factors
In the countryside, factors such as demographic transition, the Green Revolution, and land reform led to a less favorable environment for rural-to-urban migrants:
- The demographic transition resulted in higher population growth as modern medicine improved child survival rates.
- The Green Revolution brought mechanized agriculture, reducing the need for labor in rural areas.
- Land reform efforts aimed at redistributing land to the poor had limited success and often led to unrest and conflict.
Pull Factors
Urban areas offered more opportunities and amenities compared to impoverished rural areas:
- Limited amenities and services in rural areas, including basic infrastructure like electricity, led people to move to cities.
- Urban areas provided access to service-sector jobs and better education opportunities.
Latin American cities were seen as centers of economic and social activity. The scale and speed of urbanization and development in Latin America were unparalleled.
Challenges in Disamenity Zones
Living in disamenity zones presents numerous challenges for residents, but they often strive to improve their living conditions and find solutions to overcome these difficulties.
Environmental Hazards
Latin American cities face various climate risks, including tropical rains, earthquakes, mudslides, and hurricanes. Disamenity zones are particularly vulnerable to these hazards, posing risks to residents living in these areas. Limited resources often hinder comprehensive mitigation strategies.
Lack of Basic Services
Disamenity zones are characterized by poor infrastructure, inadequate amenities, and informal housing. Basic services like electricity, water, and sanitation are often lacking or insufficient. However, residents adapt by establishing small businesses, improving their dwellings, and creating social structures like schools and healthcare facilities.
Threat of Eviction
One of the main concerns in disamenity zones is the constant threat of eviction. Residents often lack legal land titles, making them vulnerable to forced removal. Land invasions are common as organizations exploit overlapping land claims to establish settlements.
Eviction threats also arise from large infrastructure projects like highways and shopping malls. Negotiation for compensation, even if forced to relocate, is a common practice.
Crime and Punishment
Disamenity zones are often stigmatized as high-crime areas, but crime levels are influenced by social disorder and control. Conflicting criminal territories in abandoned zones, as well as crowded downtown areas, may experience higher crime rates.
However, new squatter settlements may initially exhibit less violent criminal behavior. Over time, as residents climb the socioeconomic ladder, various forms of crime become more prevalent. Children raised in disamenity zones may join street gangs for protection or out of necessity.
Residents form neighborhood vigilante groups and address crime issues independently. Legal recognition of settlements can lead to police patrols and greater security efforts.
Despite the challenges faced by residents of disamenity zones, they display resilience and strive for improvement. They create supportive communities, establish informal economies, and work towards securing their rights and access to basic services.
It is important to recognize the complexities and dynamics of disamenity zones, aiming to address the underlying issues and provide opportunities for sustainable development and social inclusion.