Urban planning, instruments and practices: the vision of the local population in the medium city of Montes Claros-MG, Brazil

The city is a complex system of individuals, objects, actions, activities and physical structure. Urban planning is a field of great complexity whether as a concept, method as well as professional practice or discourse. It also involves techniques, processes, practices, policies and ideologies. This article analyzes the vision of the local population about the processes of urban planning and management in the medium city of Montes Claros / MG, Brazil. The analysis was carried out from the theoretical axes: city, urban planning, State and social participation. Thus, the first part of the article approaches city and planning in urban theory in contemporary reality and the role of the State in urban planning, especially in cities of countries from the South. Later, it contextualizes contemporary urbanization and urban planning in Brazil. At the end, the results of empirical research carried out in neighborhoods of the medium city of Montes Claros are presented, considering diagnoses, prognoses, responsibilities, positive and negative aspects raised by the population in reading the space in which they reside.