Buenos Aires: Global Dreams, Local Crises

PART OF THE World City Series, this book traces the emergence of Buenos Aires as the Southern Cone’s primary metropolitan centre and describes its drive towards attaining world city status. Examining the spatial and temporal changes in the city in the light of Argentina’s shifting role in the global economy, the book seeks to expose the complex relationship between local and global socioeconomic activities. The author argues that whilst place, global capital and the international division of labour condition the development of world cities, their articulation with political, social, cultural and environmental processes at the local level is central to understanding cities such as Buenos Aires.

After a brief introduction, the second chapter gives an historical overview of the city’s stages of growth from 1580 to 1990, tracing the impact of local and global crises on the spatial development of the city. A detailed geography of contemporary Buenos Aires is given in Chapter 3, and Chapter 4 analyzes the institutional structures governing politics, planning and housing, exposing their influence on spatial change. Continuing urban growth and housing deficits are revealed to be serious problems faced by planners and politicians. Next, the impact of global labour and capital markets upon the urban economy and landscape are considered, with stress placed upon the need to invest in services and infrastructure as well as restructure markets.

Chapter 6 focuses upon the role played by transport and communication networks in shaping not only the city but also its links with regional, national and global economies. It is argued that further investment in communications and transport is essential if Buenos Aires is to become a world city. Chapter 7 examines the health and welfare of city residents in the light of environmental problems such as air and water pollution, and discusses future urban environmental management. The interaction between physical environment, identity and sense of place, tourist landscapes, and regional and global cultural influences is the subject of Chapter 8. Finally, Chapter 9 predicts the likely future of Buenos Aires, with the possible scenarios of centralized and decentralized urban development explored in the context of continuing globalization.