Metropolização nas margens: a ocupação da margem do Rio Iguaçu no bairro São Bento em Duque de Caxias (RJ)

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of metropolization in cities on the periphery of capitalism and its relationship with the occupation of riverbanks, based on the context of Brazilian urbanization, with a specific focus on the city of Duque de Caxias, part of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region. Metropolization, linked to the processes of industrialization and accelerated urbanization of the territory, has significantly impacted the changing relationships between urban space, water bodies, and society. Due to the difficulty of occupying floodplains and wetlands that have not yet been reclaimed, the neglect of these spaces along riverbanks, coupled with the lack of housing policies, has resulted in their vulnerability to irregular occupation, whether spontaneous or driven by agents such as militias. After a period of profound and rapid urban transformation (1950-1990) in an already densely occupied territory, riverbanks appear as opportunities for these agents, even when located in environmental preservation areas. The study uses the reference case, the occupation of the banks of the Iguaçu River in the São Bento neighborhood, as a focal point and example of the relationship between the phenomenon of metropolization and environmental issues. Based on its analysis, it seeks to understand these relationships and the most recent urbanization processes and, thus, provide an update on contemporary urban dynamics in peripheral cities, considering the environmental and social implications and nuances of urban policies. In addition, it seeks to contribute to the study of water-sensitive places, a critical field within the current context of climate change and water crisis.