Critical Thought and Urban Struggles in Latin America: A Perspective from Brazil

Abstract

The article examines the development of critical urban thought in Latin America, with a focus on Brazil, articulating historical, theoretical, and political dimensions. Drawing on currents such as Marxism and developmentalism, it analyzes the evolution of the urban question and the role of urbanization, industrialization, and social struggles in shaping cities. In this context, the EURE Journal is highlighted as a key platform for the production and circulation of Latin American critical thought, as evidenced by its long-standing contribution to the systematization of debates, analytical categories, and empirical studies over more than five decades. The text also addresses processes such as Urban Reform, the influence of the Cuban Revolution, and the emergence of urban social movements. Finally, it discusses the consolidation of the neoliberal and financialized city, emphasizing the need to renew critical thought through decolonial perspectives and contemporary urban struggles.