Weaponizing Social Housing

Weaponizing Social Housing in Rio de Janeiro and Medellín is the title of my ERC-funded research project (2021-2024). With the title, I wish to point to the alarming tendency that, in both cities, armed, non-state actors are expanding their influence in state-funded social housing developments.

According to the Observatório das Metrópoles (IPPUR-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro), more than 50% of Rio de Janeiro’s social housing developments constructed within Brazil´s program Minha Casa Minha Vida (My House, My Life) are under the control of so-called „militias“. But: What does „control“ mean? Who controls whom? How does „control“ materialize? And how can we qualify „control“ as a social relation?

^{Left: AI-generated image (task to AI: Create an image of a social housing development under criminal control in cyberpunk style). Right: Photo of MCMV project „Parque Carioca“, Rio de Janeiro, 2016, (C) author.}

While in some cases, criminal groups have put up barricades to monitor and limit the access to a social housing condo in the north of Rio de Janeiro, the presence of those actors is usually less visible. Rarely one sees an armed guard standing in front of an entrance gate to a MCMV complex as in the picture on the left; in reality, often the gates are even left open.

Nevertheless, during fieldwork, I have passed regular check points at the entrance of MCMV block arrangements (right picture above). A weapon was clearly on display in front of the non-uniformed „private security guard“ sitting in the small cabin aside of the gate, denying me access. I needed to provide a reason for entering and to give name and apartment number of the person I wanted to visit, in addition to provide my personal data.

Control also materializes through armed actors‘ hold on regular urban services, such as transporation, electricty access, water, and gas; the administration of the complexes, by naming block representatives, or selling and subletting apartments; and even influencing resettlement processes and thus intervening into the decision of who benefits from the federal social housing program. In addition, residents report that these local strongmen also decide which political candidate may emplace their electoral campaign

Thus, control takes many forms, permeating economic, social, and political practices. The question, „who controls“, is more complex and the topic of a forthcoming paper of mine.