An Ethnography of Bogotá's Ecobarrios: the Construction of Place-Based Eco-Political Subjects, Subjectivities and Identities
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An Ethnography of Bogotá's Ecobarrios: The Construction of Place-based Eco-political Subjects, Subjectivities and Identities Aura Tatiana Ome Baron Thesis submitted to University College London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Development Planning Unit UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON 2017 Declaration of Autorship I, Aura Tatiana Ome Baron, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. To my supervisors and parents whose unconditional support has brought this ethnography into being and to Maria del PilarTejada whose departure moved me deeply and gave me strength to complete it Abstract In the current global ecological crisis, environmental principles have become increasingly mainstreamed in urban politics and governance and in claim-making processes across many cities in the global south. From an urban anthropology perspective, this involves interrogating how diverse actors use environmentalisms in order to generate (or not), what many define as alternative urban development trajectories that take nature into account. Inspired by this strand of work, this thesis examines how the search for such alternative trajectories impacts upon the construction of new ecological and political subjects, subjectivities and identities based on place in these times of change. As an anthropologist interested in cities, I offer here an ethnographic account of how the notion of Ecobarrios has opened different paths, in the construction of eco-political subjects in Bogotá. Ecobarrios emerged as an institutional programme, which was implemented by the Mayor’s Office between 2001 and 2003. It was later (2009) adopted as a local initiative by the dwellers of El Tríangulo in the eastern hills of the city; as a “resistance strategy” to avoid eviction and as a means to improve their living conditions. Following the different trajectories of these two attempts to articulate the notion of Ecobarrios to processes shaping urban life and territories in Bogotá. This thesis examines how the emergence of eco-political subjects either reproduced or challenged micro-political dynamics (of and from place) and how it gave rise to changes as well as transformations in urban planning. Conceptually and methodologically, the analysis fosters a debate about the scope, capacity as well as limitations of anthropology and ethnography in advancing our understanding of how different environmentalisms are pursued through urban planning processes and grassroots initiatives and with what consequences. 1 Acknowledgments I would love to say thanks to all of those who contributed to the development of this ethnography. Unfortunately, due to limited space I’m not going to be able to make it. So my apologies go to those who probably will be omitted. First of all I want to express my infinite gratitude to my principal and secondary supervisors Adriana Allen and Julio Dávila. Thank you both for believing in me, for supporting me and guiding me the way you did. Also for your really insightful comments and suggestions that enlighted me during all this process. This achievement never would have been possible without your companionship and understanding. For my parents I don’t have words just love, I’m what I am because of both of you. I just feel Infinite gratitude with both of you for being the biggest support that I ever had. Thank you for teaching me through your example that everything is possible in life with a good heart and that there are no limits to make dreams come true. Needless to say, this ethnography would not have been possible without the immense generosity and patience of all those who made part of my fieldwork. My most sincere gratitude goes to the people of Lombardía, Triángulo Alto, Triángulo Bajo, Manantial and Corinto neighbourhoods, government officials and professionals, for all their support, for sharing their experiences, knowledge and reflections and for allowing me to be part of their lives for a while. I would also like to thank DPU professors Rita Lambert and Alexandre Frediani, for having had the honour to have you in Bogotá receiving all your insightful comments in the field; and for giving me the opportunity to publish a paper with both of you and Adriana Allen from this experience. To my research assistants, Sergio Ramírez and Manuel Lozano, thank you both for your reflections and companionship that were crucial for the development of this stage. This thesis would not have been possible either without the financial support of COLCIENCIAS, Colfuturo and UCL. Thank you very much for believing in this project and supporting me. I’m grateful too to Monika Therrien and Erigaie Foundation for all the academic and logistical support throughout this process, especially during the fieldwork. In addition to the above, there is a more personal group of people to be thanked. Thanks to Stephanie Butcher, Alix Valenti, Eugenia de Diego, Gynna Millan, Juliana Hoyos, Ana Maria Huaita and Julia Wesley for being my soul sisters in London, each of you have a unique place in my heart. Thanks to my PhD colleagues and DPU friends specially Christine Oram, 2 Hector Becerril, Cristian Olmos and Matt Wood-hill, for your unconditional support and wise advice. Thanks to Carlos del Cairo, Carolina Buitrago, Maria Paula Chaparro, Laura Rodriguez, Natalia Becerra, Laura Pinzon and Natalia Lozada for your unconditional support at key moments of this process. Special thanks to my sister Juanita and to Conchita for always being there for me with all your love. 3 Table of Content Pages Abstract 1 Acknowledgements 2 Table of contents 4 List of figures, tables and photos 7 List of acronyms and abbreviations 9 Introduction: The Life Story of my Ethnography 11 The problem and objective of this ethnography 15 Why is this urban ethnography relevant? 20 The pieces of this ethnography 22 Chapter 1. Tracking Subjects, Subjectivities and Identities in the Eco-cities from an Anthropological Approach 25 1.1 Ecobarrios from the urban anthropology (UA) lens 25 1.2 Eco place-based subjects and identities in the Ecobarrios 37 1.3 Micro-politics of and from place in the eco-cities 41 1.4 Active subjects, places, cities and governmentality from an ‘eco’ perspective 45 Chapter 2. The Interpretation of ‘Ecobarrios’ from an Urban Ethnographic Approach (UEA) 49 2.1 Ethical considerations and limitations 58 2.2 Following trajectories through discursive and spatial analysis 60 Chapter 3. Writing about Ecobarrios: Institutional Documents of Eco-political Subjects and Subjectivities 66 3.1 The historical planning scenario of Ecobarrio 67 3.1.1 The administrations of Antanas Mockus 72 3.2 The official history of Ecobarrios programme and its subjects 84 3.2.1Ecobarrios: building an ecological city from the inside out 85 3.2.1.1 Ecobarrios first moment 86 3.2.1.2 Ecobarrios second moment 99 4 3.2.2 Ecobarrios stages and their eco-political subjects through an eco-governmentality magnifier 107 Chapter 4. Talking about Ecobarrios: Planners Representations of Eco-political Subjects and Subjectivities 119 4.1. The untold story of Ecobarrios from the people behind the officials 119 4.2 The unofficial history of Ecobarrios from the life stories of Ana Maria and Carlos 124 Chapter 5. Tracking the Institutional Project of Eco-political Subjects through Lombardía Case 133 5.1 Lombardía as a case study 133 5.2 Lombardía: The history of a neighbourhood 136 5.3 Following Ecobarrios ‘traces’ through ethnographic encounters 143 5.4 Talking to place- based eco-political subjects? The stories of Fanny and Luz Karime 164 Chapter 6. Triángulo Narratives of Ecobarrios: the Dwellers’ Production of Eco- political Subjects and Identities Discourse 185 6.1 Triángulo as a case study 185 6.2 Triángulo: the history of a ‘territory’ 186 6.3 Ecobarrios narratives of a local initiative from a people perspective 204 6.3.1 Ecobarrios and Eco-political subjects and Identities behind the written words 204 6.3.2 Stories of an Initiative: Ecobarrios and eco-political subjects and identities? 216 Chapter 7. Following Eco-political Subjects and Identities through the Everyday Practices 231 7.1Narrating, mapping and drawing eco-political subjects-identities and their practices 232 7.2 Following eco-political subjects and identities through the narratives of Hector and Leonardo 260 Conclusion: The end of an Eco-political Ethnographic Journey or the Beginning of a New One? 276 5 Ecobarrios and (eco) development planning in Bogotá, cities and planet earth 276 New windows of opportunity for future research 284 References and Sources 292 General References 295 List of Annexes 1. Primary and secondary sources revised – Institutional phase, Ecobarrios Programme 308 2. Interview Questionnaire 309 3. Interviewed employees – Institutional phase, Ecobarrios programme 310 4. Excerpts of the ethnographic interview conducted with Dr. Antanas Mockus on 20/06/12 311 5. Excerpts of the ethnographic interview conducted with Dr. Isabel Londoño on 19/06/12 312 6. Excerpts from the ethnographic interview conducted with Dr. Clemencia Escallón on 03/12/12 313 7. Excerpts from the ethnographic interview conducted with Father Leonel Narváez on 22/08/12 314 8. Excerpts of the ethnographic interview conducted with Alina Choperera on 07/01/13 315 9. Excerpts of Ana María Aristizabal's life story 316 10. Excerpts from Carlos Rojas’ life story 320 11. Primary and Secondary Sources for Lombardía neighbourhood 324 12. Interviewed residents – Community Phase, Ecobarrios Programme 325 13. Ethnographic observation matrix - Lombardía and San Cristóbal 326 14. Primary and Secondary Sources Triángulo Bajo, Triángulo Alto, Manantial and Corinto neighbourhoods 328 15. Semi-structured interviews – Institutional phase – Triángulo territory 329 16. Documents per Institution – San Cristobal Locality 330 17. Interviews and extended visits per neighbourhood in Triángulo 331 18. Extensive Description of Bogotá Mapping Workshop 334 6 List of Figures and Photos Figures Pages 1.