POLITICS & SOCIOLOGY

By Marcos Rosillo

Politics play a key stage when developing a city, according to Rem Koolhaas, a generic city has a relationship with an authoritarian regime, and within this there is a power struggle where the one at the top of the hierarchy will rule how the city develops. Usually these leaders want to embrace their city looking for national or international recognition.

 

Perhaps we are in the verge of calling Monterrey generic. Nowadays Lázaro Cardenas Avenue has become the largest road in the city’s metropolitan area connecting the biggest developments in the city, making a clear effect on the commercial intensity that happens in its western zone. At the same time there is a continuous construction of retail, office and housing that brings to the area a very dense urban skyline that can be compared with the biggest cities worldwide.

 

Ulrich Beck a sociology professor from Munich explains that new capitals are using information technologies to reorder their labor force and hire cheaper workers abroad. Also according to wide press media publications, about 800 companies in the USA have moved partially or completely their operations and staff to countries like Philippines, China, and several Latin American Cities to avoid high tax implementations.

 

Peripheral cities in Nuevo Leon like Apodaca and Escobedo had became targets for all kind of international companies that emigrate their business to these cities; from automotive to electronic and domestic supplies, from companies like Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool that establish their factories there.

 

All these business give Monterrey a magnetic characteristic for all kind of investors, employers and employees from surrounding states to migrate and look for better opportunities, business entrepreneurships, lifestyle, etc.; therefore the population density increases at high speed rates making suburban areas grow like neighborhoods attached to the metropolitan area.

 

In the generic city, sociology is the molding force that transforms it, every day a hypothesis is tested and discharged by the continuous interrelation of the multi cultural and economical population groups that inhabit it, therefore there is no way a single interpretation of it can be reached.

 

Monterrey is the city with the most outstanding contrast between economic groups. It is one of the richest municipalities in Latin America, and it is clear where limits begin and end. On the one hand, the wealthiest areas of the city are equipped with somehow quality infrastructure whereas on the other hand, the poorest areas remain unequipped and forgotten by the government, and continuously sprawling without planning on urban densification.

 

In Mike Davis’ publication Planet of Slums (London, New York; Verso, 2006) he says that an uncontrolled growth of population of a city with such unstable economy is the main cause for poorness, creating society-isolated neighborhoods called slums.

 

In Monterrey there is data showing 200,000 informal inhabitants living in the metropolitan areas, one known for this factor is Colonia Independencia, a neighborhood considered to be the most dangerous of the city. The area has became isolated and repulsed by the city itself causing a slum situation. According to recent data from UNESCO, super populated cities like Mexico City and Monterrey will duplicate its informal inhabitants by 2030, this situation is a call for planning and perhaps a new agenda for its citizens, are we ready for this?

 

Quarters are also characteristic of a generic city also called the thematic neighborhood. At first these places usually were part of the main blocks of the city, as it kept growing and diversifying these places lost attraction and interest from the inhabitants becoming dangerous areas to visit, therefore the city later decide to reinvigorate it and bring new life to their downtown. But usually these transformations become in some kind of circus spots to be exploded as touristic venues, each having their own specific identity and characteristics.

 

Barrio Antiguo and Colonia del Valle are self-explanatory examples, where the former was the main starting city block of Monterrey, which nowadays keeps its historical appearance but has changed from being a residential area to a night entertainment spot. The second one is recognized to be the venue for the privileged society that can afford luxurious goods such as brand clothing, sports cars, boutique hotels and restaurants. The generic becomes ordinary; Monterrey might be struggling for identity, but keeps its power and economic status, differences are stronger than ever, but perhaps this is the new venue, a city that transforms and maintains a status quo, business over identity or the identity of business…