Collective Action and Urban Memory. A Case Study in the Cordón Neighborhood of Montevideo

Abstract

The article presents findings from a research study conducted in the Cordón neighborhood, located within Municipality B of Montevideo. The relevance of the study topic is shaped by a series of socio-urban processes that impact collective modes of inhabiting the city. The crisis of public/common spaces is reflected in the depopulation of certain neighborhoods and the deterioration of housing that becomes vulnerable to financial speculation. In response to spatial segregation and gentrification, collectives emerge that, through collective action, reclaim spaces in an effort to resist the erosion of social ties while generating innovative urban experiences. The aim of the article is to highlight these experiences, which reflect the development of an alternative sensitivity—one of care and preservation of collective memory. Fieldwork was carried out between 2017 and 2023, and the methodological approach employed cartographic and historiographic techniques. The analytical materials consisted of narratives and images produced by the collectives. The article contributes knowledge to research focused on non-hegemonic expressions of social life. Key findings include several dimensions: neighborhood participation fosters processes of territorial enchantment that resist deterioration and commodification; self-managed efforts in reclaimed spaces create conditions for building neighborhood identities; reclaimed spaces become places of care; and sports and cultural expressions serve as vehicles for alternative forms of encounter and communication.