Part III - Planning Practice

Summary

The third and final section of this book delves into the realm of planning practice itself, examining it as a conduit for insurgency through three distinct cases presented across four chapters. Among these chapters, two focus on experiences within the city of Belo Horizonte in Brazil, each offering a unique perspective.

The initial chapter presents a critical examination of housing and planning policies in Belo Horizonte, illustrating the ongoing renewal of political dynamics in Brazil. This chapter challenges the notion that spaces designed for participation, the “ invited spaces” of participation, cannot be transformed. It accomplishes this by recounting the evolution of Brazil's urban reform agenda after the military dictatorship era (1964– 85). During the period of redemocratization the country witnessed a surge in progressive approaches to urban governance, even as successive federal governments introduced pronounced neoliberal governance practices. Although invited spaces were created, and subsequently lost or co-opted, under this evolving neoliberal governance framework, social movements have consistently refused to relinquish them. Instead, these movements regroup and reclaim these spaces. Rather than a linear progression aimed at dismantling neoliberal governance, this chapter describes cycles of relinquishment and resurgence as new generations of urban activists step in to reoccupy institutional spaces.

The second chapter focusing on Belo Horizonte offers an identitarian and feminist viewpoint, presenting a narrative about a group of female insurgent city councillors who had a significant impact on the city's planning practices. This perspective places emphasis on gender and racial aspects, as this group of women of colour bring fresh and unique viewpoints to the city council and to urban planning. This chapter complements and further exemplifies the preceding chapter by detailing how these progressive councillors from marginalized backgrounds reclaim a space designated for participation by advocating for previously overlooked needs and priorities. In this scenario, their insurgent actions are backed by existing institutional frameworks, a trend that is also explored in the final chapter of this book. The chapter's conclusion reflects on the limited impact of urban plans on the actual development of Brazilian cities, which is attributed to the inherently exclusive nature of urban development in the country. The chapter acknowledges that these contradictions provide fertile ground for the emergence of new demands from actors who were previously marginalized or ignored, and who continually occupy and reoccupy invited spaces, reinventing them.