Favela : Four Decades of Living on the Edge in Rio De Janeiro

Janice Perlman wrote the first in-depth account of life in the favelas, a book hailed as one of the most important works in global urban studies in the last 30 years. Now, in Favela, Perlman carries that story forward to the present. Re-interviewing many longtime favela residents whom she had first met in 1969--as well as their children and grandchildren--Perlman offers the only long-term perspective available on the favelados as they struggle for a better life. Perlman discovers that while educational levels have risen, democracy has replaced dictatorship, and material conditions have improved, many residents feel more marginalized than ever. The greatest change is the explosion of drug and arms trade and the high incidence of fatal violence that has resulted. Yet the greatest challenge of all is job creation--decent work for decent pay. If unemployment and under-paid employment are not addressed, she argues, all other efforts will fail to resolve the fundamental issues. Foreign Affairs praised Perlman for writing "with compassion, artistry, and intelligence, using stirring personal stories to illustrate larger points substantiated with statistical analysis." Perlman Has Produced An Excellent, Exhaustive Study Of Life In The 1,020 Favelas [of] Rio De Janeiro ... Her Measured Approach Is All The More Compelling Because As She Investigates The Deprivation And Danger Faced By Favela Dwellers---19% Of The City's Population---she Also Conveys A Deep Understanding That Favelas Are Not Merely Despair-filled Slums But Communities. Publishers Weekly (starred Review) Janice Perlman Is One Of The Leading Researchers On Urban Marginality, And Favela Is An Exceptional Analysis Of The Evolution Of Several Originally Informal Settlements Over Four Decades. I Highly Recommend It As Reading For Students, Urban Practitioners, And Policy Makers. Manuel Castells, Author Of The Information Age Trilogy Janice Perlman Has Written A Moving Account Of Her Experience Over Four Decades Studying, Living, And Working In Three Of Rio's Favelas. This Work Will Appeal To Academics---it Is Full Of Fine Analytical Work---as Well As To The Reader Who Is Concerned With Understanding Poverty And Social Justice And How Millions In Brazil Are Trapped By Their Environment, Lack Of Education, And Now By Crime And Violence. While The Location Of This Work Is Rio, The Lessons And Challenges Of Poverty In Big Cities Is Of Importance To Us All, As The World Moves To 2050 When 75% Of The Population Will Be In Urban Areas. James D. Wolfensohn, Former President, The World Bank A Billion People, Almost Half Of All City Dwellers In The Developing World, Live In Squatter Settlements. The Most Famous Of These Settlements Are The Favelas Of Rio De Janeiro, Which Have Existed For Over A Century And Continue To Outpace The Rest Of The City In Growth. Janice Perlman's Award-winning The Myth Of Marginality Was The First In-depth Account Of Life In The Favelas, And It Is Considered One Of The Most Important Books In Global Urban Studies In The Last 40 Years. Now, In Favela, Perlman Carries That Story Forward To The Present. Re-interviewing Many Longtime Favela Residents Whom She Had First Met In 1969---as Well As Their Children And Grandchildren---perlman Offers The Only Long-term Perspective Available On The Favela Families As They Struggle For A Better Life. Perlman Discovers That Much Has Changed In Four Decades, But While Educational Levels Have Risen, Democracy Has Replaced Dictatorship, And Material Conditions Have Improved, Many Residents Feel More Marginalized Than Ever. The Greatest Change Is The Explosion Of Drug And Arms Trade And The High Incidence Of Fatal Violence That Has Resulted. Almost One In Five People Report That A Member Of Their Family Has Been A Victim Of Homicide. Yet The Highest Priority For The Residents Is Jobs. Above All They Want A Chance To Do Decent Work For Decent Pay. If Unemployment And Underemployment Are Not Addressed, Perlman Argues, All Other Efforts---from Housing To Public Security To Community Upgrading---will Fail To Resolve The Fundamental Issues. A Revealing Study Of The Giant Squatter Settlements Of Rio De Janeiro And Of The Vibrant Communities Of Migrants Who Have Risked Everything To Come To The City To Provide More Opportunities For Their Children, Favela Offers A Powerful Look At One Of The Great Challenges Facing The Modern World.--jacket. Deep Roots In Shallow Soil -- The World Goes To The City -- Catacumba: The Favela That Was -- Nova Brasilia: From Favela To Complexo -- Duque De Caxias: Favelas And Loteamentos -- Marginality From Myth To Reality -- Violence, Fear, And Loss -- Disillusion With Democracy -- The Mystery Of Mobility -- Globalization And The Grassroots -- Reflections On Public Policy -- The Importance Of Being Gente -- Research Methods And Challenges -- Analytical Framework For Assessing Success. Janice Perlman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [385]-398) And Index. Janice Perlman wrote the first in-depth account of life in the favelas, a book hailed as one of the most important works in global urban studies in the last 30 years. Now, in Favela , Perlman carries that story forward to the present. Re-interviewing many longtime favela residents whom she had first met in 1969--as well as their children and grandchildren--Perlman offers the only long-term perspective available on the favelados as they struggle for a better life. Perlman discovers that while educational levels have risen, democracy has replaced dictatorship, and material conditions have improved, many residents feel more marginalized than ever. The greatest change is the explosion of drug and arms trade and the high incidence of fatal violence that has resulted. Yet the greatest challenge of all is job creation--decent work for decent pay. If unemployment and under-paid employment are not addressed, she argues, all other efforts will fail to resolve the fundamental issues. Foreign Affairs praises Perlman for writing "with compassion, artistry, and intelligence, using stirring personal stories to illustrate larger points substantiated with statistical analysis." Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 26 Introduction......Page 34 CHAPTER 1 Deep Roots in Shallow Soil......Page 57 CHAPTER 2 The World Goes to the City......Page 74 CHAPTER 3 Catacumba: The Favela That Was......Page 95 CHAPTER 4 Nova Brasilia: From Favela to Complexo......Page 126 CHAPTER 5 Duque de Caxias: Favelas and Loteamentos......Page 154 CHAPTER 6 Marginality from Myth to Reality......Page 180 CHAPTER 7 Violence, Fear, and Loss......Page 198 CHAPTER 8 Disillusion with Democracy......Page 233 CHAPTER 9 The Mystery of Mobility......Page 253 CHAPTER 10 Globalization and the Grassroots......Page 279 CHAPTER 11 Reflections on Public Policy......Page 297 CHAPTER 12 The Importance of Being Gente......Page 349 APPENDIX 1 Research Methods and Challenges......Page 374 APPENDIX 2 Analytical Framework for Assessing Success......Page 388 Notes......Page 394 References......Page 418 B......Page 432 C......Page 433 F......Page 435 I......Page 437 M......Page 438 N......Page 439 P......Page 440 R......Page 441 S......Page 442 U......Page 443 Y......Page 444