ABSTRACT

The Latin American city is an extreme case of urban violence. This chapter utilizes the extreme case to think about the role and nature of violence in urban life in and beyond the region. In particular it explores the relationship between global constructions of the ‘secure’ or ‘safe’ city to understandings of what makes a ‘successful’ city. The chapter discusses the broad framework of ‘disorder’, and the varied challenges of violence, insecurity, and inequalities in the ‘global city’ and Latin America. It also explores modelling and marketing of this city as a ‘success’ story for addressing urban violence, and contrasts with approaches to violence which take on board the complexity of its everyday expressions. The chapter concludes with a discussion of research on violence and security which seeks to evidence the latter, while working with those living such violences to build approaches to security, understood as a public good.