Street-Level Bureaucracy and Territory: Normative Regimes and Inequalities in São Paulo´s Cracolândia

EasyChair Preprint 13635

Abstract

This article examines the influence of street-level bureaucrats in "Cracolândia" ("Crackland"), a socially diverse area in central São Paulo where many crack users congregate in public spaces. This region has long been a target of public interventions in security, social assistance, health, and housing, while also being shaped by the activities of various non-state actors, including community associations, NGOs, and organized crime. By focusing on this territory, we present four ethnographic case studies of women who vary significantly in their social characteristics, living conditions, and connections to the area. These case studies illustrate the diverse ways these women identify and address their problems, utilizing available resources and relationships to develop strategies and interact with a mix of state and non-state actors. Our analysis highlights the distinct treatment bureaucracies afford different individuals, emphasizing the role of these professionals in perpetuating inequalities.

Keyphrases: Governance, marginalized groups, territory

@booklet{EasyChair:13635,
  author    = {Giordano Magri and Matthew Richmond},
  title     = {Street-Level Bureaucracy and Territory: Normative Regimes and Inequalities in São Paulo´s Cracolândia},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 13635},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}