TERRITORIAL (IN) JUSTICE IN THE PROCESS OF URBANIZATION: THE CASE OF MANIZALES

Taking the specific case of Manizales (Colombia) as an example this paper shows how planning within the urbanization process has generated inequality and polarization since the 1930s and in doing so has brought about social injustice for groups lacking economic and political power. An example of this are the self-help neighborhoods located in the southern slopes of Manizales where injustices are clearly reflected in the local space. Based on a historical study, this paper explains the emergence of urban inequalities and reflects critically on planning processes by establishing how urban space is produced in terms of social, economic and politically-based relations, which are inevitably expressed in the spatial forms taken by the city. Finally, we stress the need to search for territorial justice within the contexts of spatial, historical and social assembly to generate more effective tools aimed at changing inequalities and polarization. This could be pursued by implementing spatially-sensitive policies and practices, thus shifting from a distributive model approach to procedural-based participatory and decision-making approaches through social action and concerted policies.