ABSTRACT
Conceptualization of the contemporary city can go in different directions and include various approaches. My research deals with favelas, conflict and vio lence, and my main observatory is the city of Rio de Janeiro. It also deals with spatial segregation and social exclusion, and its ultimate goal is to propose strategies for inclusion and integration. It is important to have specific meth odological tools to understand the social and political dynamics of informal settlements in Rio in order to be able to design upgrading schemes and plans that will be effective in solving the many problems confronting the population that inhabits the favelas.
