Power relations in city-making around the reform of Barra shore, in Salvador - Bahia (2013-2017)

Abstract

This work is an ethnographic report of an urban transformation: the reform of Barra shore in Salvador — Bahia, observing events that occurred between 2013 and 2017. The aim was to identify power relations in the city-making that occurred around this urban transformation. Starting from Agier's and Foucault’s formulations, power relations in city-making are proposed as the difficulties to the movements of some actors imposed by the movements of other actors and by the (re)configurations of urban spaces. In the research, tools which are common to the ethnographic method were used, such as participant observation, fieldnotes, recorded conversations, news and publications on social networks. The results indicate power relationships established through changes in neighborhood traffic, lack of shadowing, increased frequency of visitors on weekends, among others, as well as resistance to some of these power relationships. Mapping power relations in city-making can lead to steps towards more inclusive cities.