In response to Suketu Mehta and his “violent favelas of Brazil”

When Suketu Mehta, essayist and author of the acclaimed book Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found wrote a piece about Brazilian Continue reading →

Favelas of Complexo do Alemão big tourist attraction, supposedly, thanks to gondola transport system…

Favela tourism is here to stay; and despite widespread ethical concerns, it’s booming business. Accordingto recent numbers collected by SuperVia, Continue reading →

Knowing the Favela

The current paradigm of ‘favela integration’ in Rio de Janeiro requires that the favelas themselves become an object of knowledge. Continue reading →

“Underground Sociabilities”: new trends in urban social research?

Social psychologists at the London School of Economics partner with Brazilian researchers and challenge us to consider grassroots struggles for Continue reading →

Revisiting Complexo do Alemão

The author revisits 13 conjoined favelas, known as Complexo do Alemão, after one year to see how ‘favela integration’ projects Continue reading →

Questions of perspective: research as nation-building

Brazilian academics, once known for their fierce criticism of the state and Brazilian politics, now express tempered optimism. This post Continue reading →

Questions of perspective

Lines are being drawn over Rio de Janeiro’s controversial Pacifying Police Units; but are opinions more ideologically informed than they Continue reading →

Remaking Rio: favela tourism and the tourist narrative, part III

This is the third and final post in a series about the portrayal of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas through the Continue reading →