Luttes urbaines et démocratie à Caracas (2001-2004)

Abstract

Between 2001 and 2004, political quarrels have taken place in Caracas for the control of some of the most emblematic public spaces in the capital with the purpose of redefining their symbolic function as well as the model of urbanity they represent. This article seeks to shed light on these events by looking at the political context of the moment. It links the meaning of the occupation of these public spaces to the values they embody as a result of the historical evolution of the urban morphology. It aims furthermore at analysing the ideological implications of this differentiated territorialization of the city which builds upon two artificial poles of democracy (the “People” and the “Civil Society”) as well as its significance regarding the present mutations of the Venezuelan public and political sphere which is increasingly defined through media-processing and mystic personnalism.

Keywords

• urbanity
• cities
• politics
• media
• public space