Urbicide: a Thematic and Conceptual Approach to Apply in Brazil

Abstract

This article reflects on the concept of urbicide (violence against the city) and the need for Brazilian geographers to develop this important field of political debate. First, the concept of urbicide is presented and illustrated in the cases of Bosnia, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon in order to show its methodological and conceptual pertinence. Then, this theme is explored in the Brazilian context, highlighting local specificities of violence practiced against dominated social classes due to current trends of urbanization and militarization in Brazil. Thus, we seek to formulate a point of view that considers local reality to be situated at the threshold of denial and destruction of urbanity in order to focus on Brazilian urbicide as a possible field of study.