Renegotiating the Historic Center and Its Plaza in Mexico
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ENTREPRENEURIAL URBAN GOVERNANCE AND PRACTICES OF POWER: RENEGOTIATING THE HISTORIC CENTER AND ITS PLAZA IN MEXICO CITY Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Veronica Crossa M.A. ******* The Ohio State University 2006 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Nancy Ettlinger, Adviser Professor Mei-Po Kwan _____________________ Professor Laura Podalsky Adviser Geography Graduate Program Copyright by Veronica Crossa 2006 ABSTRACT This dissertation examines socio-spatial exclusion in Mexico City’s Historic Center. Specifically, how new power structures are struggled over and negotiated in people’s everyday lives. This work centers on a recently implemented entrepreneurial policy in Mexico City called the Programa de Rescate (The Rescue Program). The prime objective of the policy is to revitalize and beautify the streets, buildings and central plaza of the city’s Historic Center. Although this policy seeks an improvement in the quality of life for the local population, it excludes particular forms of social interaction that are central to the well-being of a large sector of the population, particularly street vendors and artisans who rely on public spaces for their daily survival. Much of the existing literature that focuses on socio-spatial exclusion in an entrepreneurial context has emphasized new structures of power and problems posed to excluded groups. However, I argue that despite the constraints placed upon different groups of affected citizens, excluded groups develop survival strategies that enable them to maintain a livelihood and in some cases empower them to thrive. Further, I question conventional thinking that views the state as monolithic and necessarily constraining to marginalized groups and ii certain (formal and informal) businesses. Rather, I show that state practices are shaped by different social groups, including those sectors of society who are typically viewed as excluded and disempowered. Through a historical analysis of the Mexican state, I show that excluded groups have managed to tap into the state and thus exert influence over the shape and workings of state policies. By analyzing a particular type of public space in the Latin American context – the plaza – my research asks if these spaces have been reconstituted physically or symbolically and if so, how. I critically synthesize Latin American literatures on the plaza and entrepreneurial urban governance; I connect this synthesis with the European and US literature on entrepreneurial urban governance and shed light on processes that this literature has overlooked; and I recast entrepreneurial urban governance by focusing on the role of agency and the multiple ways in which power is practiced both among and between different social groups in everyday life, including state officials, residents, shop owners, and street vendors. My research methods were qualitative. I triangulated information gathered from archival work, open ended and semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. I interviewed members of policy circles, street vendors, artisans, residents, and local shop owners. Further, I used participant observation in demonstrations, protests, marches, rallies and public meetings with different groups of affected citizens. iii Dedicated to my mother, Yolanda Niell, my father, Jose Crossa and my brothers Nicolas, Aldo, Luciano, and Mateo for their love and unconditional support throughout this entire process. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation is the materialization of a long and arduous process which could have never been completed without the help, emotional support, advice, and guidance of many people. I would like to begin by thanking my advisor, Nancy Ettlinger. She played an essential role during my graduate career. Her knowledge, encouragement, patience, time, guidance, and comments are the backbone of this work. I could not have asked for a better advisor. Thank you Nancy for making this process as humane as possible and for encouraging me to excel. I would also like to thank my committee members, Laura Podalsky and Mei-Po Kwan, for their time, advice, and their overall kindness throughout these years. A special thanks to Kevin Cox, Larry Brown, Eugene McCann, and Paul Robbins for their excellent courses, their advice, and help throughout the different stages of the PhD process. Thanks to Olga Medvedkov who encouraged me to pursue my graduate studies. I must thank the Department of Geography, The Ohio State University Office of International Affairs, the Alumni Grant for Graduate Research and Scholarship, the Mershon Center and the Tinker Foundation for the generous funding the provided for this research . v My fieldwork was made possible by the help and encouragement of many people. Lina Gryj housed me during fourteen months in Mexico City; the fieldwork would have been very difficult without her love and support. I would like to thank Catherine Paquette for spending numerous hours helping me to better understand the complexities of the Historic Center; and for her willingness to share valuable information. Te agradezco infinitamente tu ayuda! I would also like to thank the department of Urban Development at El Colegio de México, especially Clara Salazar and Jose Luis Lezama for giving me the opportunity to participate in a unique experience as part of the Proyecto Corredores. Much of the information gathered for this manuscript was made possible by the opportunities presented during that research project. Thank you also to Jerome Monnet for reading my proposal and for his valuable intellectual insights. I would also like to thank the journalist Arturo Paramo for sharing his ‘on-the- ground’ knowledge of street vendors in Mexico City. A special thanks to Victor Cisneros, Rebeca Taifeld, and the many other shop owners who voluntarily spent hours sharing their experiences with me about the Programa. And of course to the many street vendors in the Historic Center who welcomed me in their every day life without asking for anything, just understanding. Of course, to my wonderful friends who constantly reminded me that there is a life beyond the PhD: Lara Mancuso, Lina Gryj, Cynthia Barrera, Cecilia Vilchis, Irene Alvarez, Martha de Alba, Marie Leger, Charo Peludo, Delphine Ancien, Rohit Negi, Rini Sumartojo, Rusmir Niksic, Miguel Hindi, Angel Gutierrez, Fernando Bosco. vi Finally, I would like to thank Alistair Fraser who carefully read and re-read multiple versions and drafts of this manuscript; who, for hours discussed ideas with me; who listened to my complaints and frustrations, and who offered irreplaceable help for seven years. Thank you for being a unique intellectual and emotional partner. vii VITA March 7, 1974 ................................................ Born – Paysandú, Uruguay 1996................................................................ B.A. Geography, Wittenberg University of Ohio 1999................................................................ M.A. Urban Development, El Colegio de Mexico 1999 – present................................................ Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University. PUBLICATIONS 1. Crossa, V. (2005) “Converting ‘small’ stories into ‘big’ ones: A Response to Susan Smith’s ‘State, Markets and an Ethic of Care’”, Political Geography 24: 1 pp.29- 34. 2. Crossa, V. (2004) “Entrepreneurial Urban Governance and Practices of Power: Renegotiating the Plaza in Mexico City”, Antipode 36:1. pp.127-129. 3. Crossa, V. (2001).“Safety and Security for all: globalization, image-making and the policing of public space: the case of Mexico City”, Studies in Regional and Urban Planning 1:9 pp.111-129. FIELDS OF STUDY Major field: Geography viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ...........................................................................................................................ii Dedication........................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................v Vita...................................................................................................................................viii List of Figures..................................................................................................................xi Chapters: 1. Introduction: Rethinking socio-spatial exclusion in Mexico City’s Historic Center................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. How the problem emerged............................................................................ 1 1.2 El Soho chilango(the Mexican Soho) ........................................................... 7 1.3 Understanding the Programa........................................................................ 11 1.4 Reimagining the Historic Center through a geographic lens........................ 17 1.5 Organization of the dissertation.................................................................... 24 2. Some issues of an ‘other’ studying ‘others’: negotiating multiple ‘selves’ in the field and in academe ............................................................................................ 27 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 27 2.2 Shifting positions: