Socio-spatial violence prevention: Inhibiting violence in Caracas, Venezuela through spatial planning

Abstract

Contemporary urban growth in many cities in Latin American and Africa has been accompanied by unprecedented levels of urban violence. Latin America epitomizes this trend as three of the world's most dangerous cities, Ciudad Juárez, San Pedro Sula, and Caracas, are located within this region (JÁCOME; GRATIUS, 2011, p. 2). Of these three, Caracas is notable because its exorbitant homicide rate cannot be explicitly attributed to the illicit drug trade-cartel wars that consume Mexico, nor is it represented by the civil con lict-gang violence that af licts Central America. Moreover, the Venezuelan context is further distinguished as inequality, which is consistently cited as the primary catalyst for the emergence of everyday reactionary violence, is not overtly characteristic of the contemporary situation. Rather, caraqueño insecurity has largely been attributed to the exacerbation of social factors that perpetuate violence as " […] an end in itself or a [mechanism] to injure/ eliminate another person in order to resolve an interpersonal con lict […]" (SANJUÁN, 2002, p. 95). Based on this reality, this work proposes the inclusion of socio-spatial interventions into contemporary prevention initiatives. Spatial interventions have shown a "[…] signi icant capacity to prevent the occurrence of violence in areas that are either totally or partially excluded from economic development and larger society […]" (DÍAZ; MELLER, 2012, p. 23). Implications of this work have the capacity to augment predominantly technical violence prevention precedent and enhance knowledge on alternative mechanisms to prevent insecurity. This study employs a comprehensive literature review in conjunction with data analyses in the development of a spatial proposal for Caracas.

The Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria within the Context of Governance Failure, Justice and Unrest

“…The revanchist tendencies and political brinkmanship exhibited in Nigeria's political space is untoward and negate the basics of democratic precepts and only instill fear and uncertainty in the minds of average Nigerians. Buttressing this, Kasang (2014), quoting Aliu et al (2010:22), maintained;…”

“…Insecurity in modern Nigeria has emerged even more daring than what it was in the 60s after independence. The reason according to Kasang (2014), is that, the amalgamation of Nigeria was not properly knitted, it was an act of colonial convenience and made little impact since the policies adopted to turn the Nigeria project into reality were self-defeating as the colonial state relied heavily on hostile force to subjugate the indigenous people which drove them to traditional solidarity groups such as ethnic or national groups. This event set the platform for regionalist elites on whose behest decisions on information and policies are represented in the national domain.…”

“…Furthermore rapid urbanization process has a strong correlation with insecurity. Aliu et al, (2010:23), quoting Choke Chikwendu in Kasang (2014), avers: Our society has witnessed urbanization but without commensurate security strength. We need to improve the security situation through a holistic approach.…”