Settling on their ground: The shifting land politics of armed actors in the urban margins of Medellín

How do armed groups shape land orders in the urban margins? While the power dynamics of non-state armed actors over land resources have been extensively studied in rural contexts, urban settings have received far less attention. In response to the growing influence of criminal organizations in the informal land markets of Latin American cities, this article offers a historical perspective on the involvement of armed actors in Medellín’s political economy of urban land. From guerrilla movements in the 1970s to contemporary criminal gangs, we trace how different groups have exercised land control in informal settlements. Building on this historical perspective, we argue that, while control over land access has long been a tool of territorialization for non-state armed actors, the contemporary criminal land market reflects a shift compared to earlier periods, as these actors seek to monopolize land control and extend their regulatory power over local populations. • Criminal groups have historically shaped land access processes in Medellín. • Land control has been central to the territorial and political power of non-state actors. • Criminal influence over informal land markets is growing in Latin American cities. • Recent criminal control over land markets expands their governance capacity.