Limits of inter-American cooperation: large dams and urban planning in Latin America after 1945

Abstract

ABSTRACT Large dams are crucial sites for urban planning because they normally require the construction of relocated settlements, industrial towns, and workers’ camps. After 1945, Latin America emerged as one of the important centres for dam-building. The planning of urban structures built in this context represents a basic tension of inter-American cooperation. Whereas the initial model of such settlements was the U.S. company town and some countries like Venezuela even contracted urban planners from the United States, Latin American countries used urban planning to prove their planning capabilities. Even though they adapted Western lifestyle and housing, they were eager to keep out direct influence from abroad. On the other hand, dam towns were manifestations of the pitfalls of modern urban planning since they produced socially segregated spaces and strengthened social inequality. Engineers and middle-class inhabitants enjoyed a certain comfort, but resettled people and workers often faced difficult living conditions and protested against the urban planning policy.