Neighborhood-City Dialectic: Urban violence and fear of crime in Caracas (Venezuela)

The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to recognize, document, and classify the different characteristics, indicators and environments underlying urban violence in Caracas; and, second, to identify the points or locations that require urban design and planning strategies to improve living conditions. The first approach consisted of a theoretical and analytical study of violence in current problematic urban contexts. It is essential to recognize the variables and different theories that can explain the scope of violence and fear of crime from a socio-urban perspective and based on a neighbourhood-city dialectic. We sought to understand how urban planning and architecture play an important role in city design and the social integration of its citizens. Citizen perception of the physical environment influences the quality of public spaces in cities. Indeed, the latter constitute complex political-cultural products, characterized by our values and collective imagination. In this way, there is an effect on individuals' feelings of vulnerability, since citizens can perceive themselves as victims of crime. We must understand how the impact and relations of these perceptions within the dynamics of a society in which aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour are frequently observed. We also highlight the urban dimension of Caracas' neighbourhoods, reflecting the city's segregation, inequality, and fragmentation owing to political, institutional, and technical obstacles. In conclusion, citizen insecurity in Latin America affects inhabitants' quality of life, generating fear and uncertainty, limiting their movements and activities. Urban violence creates divisions and conflicts between different social groups, undermining social cohesion and well-being. The phenomenon thus violates human rights, such as freedom of movement and physical integrity. The many manifestations of violence in Venezuela makes it relevant to study the complexity of this phenomenon, particularly urban violence.