The conflict over urban land in Vila Autódromo, Rio de Janeiro: mediation through violence

Abstract

This paper deals with the conflict over urban land between the City of Rio de Janeiro and the residents of Vila Autódromo, a slum neighbouring the area that would become the centre of activities for the 2016 Olympic Games. The work was based on an action research that lasted five years, accompanied by interviews and fieldwork starting from the third year. City Hall launched a series of initiatives that involved practices of intimidation and different forms of violence to implement an urban project. The residents, in turn, resorted to legal and technical support, producing an abundance of critical material regarding the compromise of social rights and the democratic experience. The case of Vila Autódromo shows that City Hall, through its agents, was able to deal with the ambiguities and imprecisions in the law to pursue its goals. It also demonstrates that resistance can sometimes stall and thwart the reproduction of violent structures, even if at great cost.