Discourses of insecurity and urban renewal policies among local residents: An anthropological approach to the case of the “old neighbours” and the ARI-Lavapiés (Madrid)

Abstract

Lavapiés, a central neighborhood in Madrid, has been defined as “Preferential Renewal Area” (ARI) for more than ten years, in the context of public policies for urban renewal. As specific policies, ARIs were developed in the main Spanish city centers from the 80´s, after a diagnosis of “urban crisis” and “urban unsafeness” shared by residents, civil associations, public servants and local politicians. After all these years the ARI-Lavapiés has been unable to eliminate the strong feeling of lack of safeness, which exists among the old residents of the neighbourhood. From an ethnographical approach to the discourse and experience of insecurity among this group of local residents, I will show how anthropology, and the use of qualitative research methods in general, can contribute to urban discussion about public policies evaluation.