Spaces of negotiation in low-income housing in San José, Costa Rica: A comparison of spaces of negotiation in Rincón Grande de Pavas

Abstract

Drawing on institutionalist approaches developed in other fields, this paper reports on the development of the concept of space of negotiation as a tool to analyse relations between state, market and civil society in low-income housing in developing countries. This paper reports on the application of this tool to low-income housing processes in five settlements within a large low-income area in San Jose, Costa Rica, from the standpoint of civil society, focusing on the development of one of these settlements. This detailed study, in combination with an appraisal of spaces of negotiation at the national level, highlights the importance of second-tier community-based organisations and political links in achieving housing and infrastructure results through these spaces of negotiation.