Inequalities and Socio-economic Relations in the Twin Cities of the Brazilian-Bolivian Border

Abstract

Borders are regions where socio-economic inequalities between nations become salient and influence the dynamics of territorial flows orientated by the availability of public services and commercial opportunities. This paper presents the main elements of inequality that condition interactions between municipalities located in the Brazil-Bolivia border region, with special regard to historical and political aspects as well as to issues related to education and healthcare. The research involved fieldwork and interviews conducted in the three largest twin-city areas of this region: Corumbá/Ladário (Mato Grosso do Sul, BRA)–Puerto Quijarro/Puerto Suárez (Santa Cruz, BOL); Guajará-Mirim (Rondônia, BRA)–Guayaramerín (Beni, BOL) and Brasileia/Epitaciolândia (Acre, BRA)–Cobija (Pando, BOL). Socio-economic inequalities are shown to direction territorial flows between border cities and to create social stigma that permeates every aspect of local everyday life.