Gating Tegucigalpa, Honduras: The Paradoxical Effects of "Safer Barrios"
Gating Tegucigalpa, Honduras: The Paradoxical Effects of "Safer Barrios"
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Date
2019-10-01
Authors
Handal, Cristina
Irazabal, Clara
Advisor
Citation
Handal, C. and C. Irazábal. "Gating Tegucigalpa, Honduras: The Paradoxical Effects of ‘Safer Barrios.’" Journal of Urban Affairs, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2019.1654894
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the paradoxical political and socio-spatial dynamics created
by “Safer Barrios,” a security program that redefines notions of citizenship,
governance, participation, and space in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The rapid
proliferation of street gates sanctioned by the state under this program is
producing understudied effects both within and outside the gates throughout
the city, a phenomenon that this study qualitatively analyzes. The findings
reveal that these newly gated residential areas demand a more nuanced
analysis than that which traditional gated communities have received in the
past; this stems from their different constitution and consequences, particularly
the program’s unique relationship to and sponsorship by the local government.
The program paradoxically fosters a greater sense of community and
safety for participants while negatively affecting mobility and sociability for the
rest of city residents. The findings hold critical implications for city design,
planning, and policy making.