The ongoing relevance of the center–periphery pattern in the Metropolis of São Paulo

Resumo

Grounded in the political and theoretical contributions of peripheral intellectuals, this article offers a critical examination of a contemporary trend in urban studies that seeks to invalidate the concept of periphery as an analytical category for understanding metropolitan urbanisation processes. Focusing on the city of São Paulo and drawing on a range of examples, the text outlines nine arguments that underpin this attempt at invalidation, while exposing its limitations and weaknesses. The analysis is guided by three main methodological premises: the relationship between different zones of the city; the historical vocation and transformations of each zone; and the role of social conflict in the social production of urban space. The article concludes that despite the increasing internal complexity of peripheral areas over recent decades, they continue to occupy a subordinate and dependent relationship with high-income districts and the traditional center of the city of São Paulo. Thus, the center–periphery pattern remains a persistent feature.

Ficha do documento

Tipo

Artigo científico

Ano

2025

Instituição

ANPUR

Fonte

Revista Brasileira de Estudos Urbanos e Regionais

Idioma

Português

Acesso

Não informado

DOI

10.22296/2317-1529.rbeur.202529pt

Identificador

oai:ojs.rbeur.anpur.org.br:article/7787

Licença

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Palavras-chave

Movimentos SociaisSegregação SocioespacialDesigualdades SocioespaciaisPadrão Periférico de CrescimentoPeriferiaSujeitos PeriféricosSão PauloSocial MovementsSocio-spatial SegregationSocio-spatial InequalitiesPeripheral Pattern of GrowthPeripheryPeripheral Subjects