Do Buenos Aires’ Policies Truly Constitute Something New?: Ruptures, Continuities, and Innovative Elements in the Concept of Socio-Urban Integration

Abstract

This article analyses the concept of socio-urban integration, which has shaped recent policies for informal settlements in Buenos Aires and informed regional policy exchange. Based on qualitative research and governmental discourse analysis, it examines how the concept is framed and implemented. While often presented as innovative, it reveals tensions and limitations, particularly in conflating integration with assimilation and privileging physical upgrading over comprehensive, participatory approaches. Nevertheless, these policies introduced novel elements into housing policy, notably in terms of scale, target population, urban location, and architectural design. The study questions the originality of this model within broader Latin American trends.