Neo-colonial urbanism in three intermediate Argentinean cities

Abstract

The paper analyses three neighbourhoods in intermediate cities in Argentina to explore howcolonial past persists and urban commons are challenged by neo-colonial dynamics ofcapitalism. Focusing on three neighbourhoods - Güemes in Córdoba, Toba in Resistencia andLa República in San Luis- the paper explores how communal life is shaped by multiplecompeting stakeholders. Global trends of valorization, beautification, patrimonialisation, anddisciplining of communal life manifest uniquely in each area.From a qualitative perspective, the analysis is structured around three conceptual axes: i)colonial dynamics, ii) value dynamics ?both examined through secondary sources?and iii)commons dynamics, based on interviews and fieldwork. This research highlights urbancommons as counterpoints to value production, emphasising life over capitalist value:concrete rather than abstract, qualitative rather than quantitative. This paper contributes to theunderstanding of intermediate cities as arenas where neo-colonial urban expressions coexistwith interstitial forms of the commons derived from historical practices.