The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the presence of social capital in a slum of Rio de Janeiro city after the implementation of the public security policy that introduced the Police Pacification Units (UPPs) in 2008. Based on fieldwork conducted in the slum Santa Marta, this research presents an analysis of the informal networks of sociability in this community.
It was the first community in the city to receive a UPP, which was created to regain territorial control of the slums. This paper demonstrates how solid social networks in slum areas constitute a form of social capital that encourages public safety and thereby facilitates the social order. The ultimate goal is to provide some recommendations to integrate this unique kind of environment into the formal city.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical approaches guiding the case study
3. Design of the experiment
4. Social structures of slums
5. The community Santa Marta
6. Public Security in the state Rio de Janeiro from the 1980s to 2014
7. The Police Pacification Units and the UPP Santa Marta
8. Testing the hypotheses
9. Experimental evidence
10. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the development and presence of social capital in the Santa Marta community in Rio de Janeiro following the implementation of Police Pacification Units (UPPs). It explores how informal networks of sociability and trust-based cooperation between residents and police contribute to social order and the integration of the slum into the formal urban structure.
- Analysis of social capital dynamics in slum environments.
- Evaluation of the impact of Police Pacification Units on public safety and social relations.
- Investigation of trust-building processes between police officers and community members.
- Assessment of the role of social projects in integrating marginalized communities.
Excerpt from the Book
The community Santa Marta
The community Santa Marta, located on the Dona Marta hill, lies in the quarter Botafogo, in the southern zone of Rio de Janeiro. As indicated by data from the last census (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 2014), the community has 3.913 inhabitants living on an area of 54.692 square meters.
The emergence of the community Santa Marta occurred in the first half of the twentieth century when the region was still composed of a dense forest. At that time the hill belonged to the Jesuit priests of the Saint Ignacio College. In 1924, the priests allowed some workers to live there. Many of these early residents were from the north, northeastern and rural regions of the country. After about 20 years the hill already had 1,632 inhabitants, whereas 728 people of them were illiterate (Cunha and Mello, 2011).
According to the slum dwellers the community name originated in the 1920s when a picture of Marta Saint was brought by a person who placed it on the hill. The community name generated a controversy, as some call it Santa Marta and others Dona Marta. However, a former head of the local drug traffic once explained that Dona Marta is the name of the hill and the favela is called Santa Marta (Barcellos, 2012).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of social capital for development and introduces the research focus on the Santa Marta community post-UPP implementation.
2. Theoretical approaches guiding the case study: Reviews key sociological concepts of trust and social capital, particularly focusing on actor-centered networks.
3. Design of the experiment: Describes the qualitative methodology used, including fieldwork and semi-structured interviews conducted between February and April 2013.
4. Social structures of slums: Explores the historical evolution of Rio de Janeiro’s slums and the urban separation between the "hill" and the "asphalt".
5. The community Santa Marta: Details the demographic background, geographical location, and the historical emergence of the Santa Marta community.
6. Public Security in the state Rio de Janeiro from the 1980s to 2014: Provides a chronological overview of public security policies and the shifting relationship between the state and slum residents.
7. The Police Pacification Units and the UPP Santa Marta: Examines the operational framework, objectives, and social programs associated with the UPP policy.
8. Testing the hypotheses: Analyzes field observations and interview narratives regarding changes in police-community relations.
9. Experimental evidence: Presents the categorized data derived from interviews regarding trust in the police.
10. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings and offers policy recommendations for fostering social capital and integrating slum communities.
Keywords
social capital, public policy, slum, UPP, trust, community policing, Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro, sociability, social cohesion, urban integration, fieldwork, institutional trust, security, social networks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research investigates the presence and development of social capital in the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro after the installation of a Police Pacification Unit (UPP) in 2008.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The study explores social capital, public security policy, community policing, the historical structure of Brazilian slums, and the dynamics of interpersonal trust.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine how the activities of the Police Pacification Unit create conditions for the community to develop social capital.
Which methodology was utilized in this study?
The author employed qualitative research methods, primarily conducting semi-structured interviews with residents and a UPP police officer, supplemented by an analysis of existing quantitative data.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The text covers theoretical frameworks of trust, a history of public security policies in Rio de Janeiro, an analysis of the community's social structure, and a detailed assessment of the UPP's impact on local life.
Which keywords define this academic work?
The most relevant keywords include social capital, public policy, slum, UPP, trust, community policing, and social integration.
How is "trust" defined in the context of this study?
Following Coleman’s perspective, the study treats trust as a form of behavior rather than a personal trait, specifically investigating effectiveness, fairness, and shared intentions in the police-community relationship.
What is the author's conclusion regarding trust in the UPP?
The author concludes that while trust is being built at a personal level between residents and specific police officers, it has not yet transitioned into deep institutional trust in the police as a whole.
How did residents perceive the changes after the UPP?
Perceptions were mixed; while many residents appreciated the increased safety and freedom of movement, some remained critical of police conduct and the imposition of new rules.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Juliana Vianna da Nobrega (Autor:in), 2013, Building up Social Capital. A case study from the community Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/315255
