Post-development as an alternative to experiences of urban governance: the Buen Vivir

Abstract

The article discusses the notion of development, understood as linear progress and economic growth, which contribute to weave a politically and culturally homogenized city in most parts of the world. The paper presents the post-development as a possible alternative, with emphasis on discourses and practices of the Buen Vivir. Thereby, the article seeks to discuss a scheme of urban governance that incorporates, in an inseparable way, the actions of the various actors in the micro-regional scope into the planning actions. The choice of the Buen Vivir is justified by its feature of cultural plurality, which allows for managing the asymmetries of the actors who weave the city. The main research sources are bibliographies published outside the conventional circuit, as well as the voices of the actors committed to counter-hegemonic struggles. The results achieved are notes on the needs and possibilities of micro-regional articulation anchored in the Buen Vivir.