Gated communities and urban social segregation

Abstract

The appearance of gated communities constitutes an urban phenomenon of great relevance in last decades in different countries. The origin of gated communities is related to diverse causes, being urban violence and insecurity the most important ones nowadays. Nevertheless, to achieve a more comprehensive vision of this phenomenon is important to consider not only the causes that gave origin to those urban development, but also the consequences, mainly in terms of the social fabric and the process of urban social segregation that is implicit in its development.