Dis/possessive geographies: poverty, violence, and private property in the proletarian neighborhoods of Mexico City

Rodrigo Meneses

Chapter 9 in A Modern Guide to Urban Poverty, 2026, pp 178-190 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the dynamics of poverty, violence, and private property in contemporary Mexico City, focusing on proletarian neighborhoods—areas historically shaped by land invasions and self-construction. These neighborhoods emerged between the 1930s and 1950s, offering affordable housing to the urban poor. Initially, the state recognized and legalized these settlements, granting property titles to their residents. However, by the late twentieth century, narratives had shifted, and property invasions were increasingly criminalized. The crime of dispossession, redefined through a classist and liberal legal framework, came to encompass collective urbanization efforts, leading to the demolition and stigmatization of proletarian neighborhoods. The chapter addresses how the property rights of the urban poor have evolved, exploring the state's role in managing, recognizing, or divesting their claims. Ultimately, it offers an alternative historical map of the urban dispossessed, highlighting ongoing conflicts between the state and marginalized communities over urban territory.

Keywords: Urban Poverty; Private Property; Crime; Dispossession; Mexico City (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781800889682
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