URBAN GOVERNANCE AND THE COMMODIFICATION OF SPACE IN BRAZIL

AbstractThis study addresses urban governance and the commodification of urban space in Brazil, highlighting the contradictions, inequalities, and socio-spatial exclusion promoted by contemporary urban policies, often captured by private interests. The main objective is to critically analyze how governance and urban planning instruments, although normatively aimed at promoting inclusion and sustainability, are frequently used to reinforce market-driven logic and marginalize vulnerable populations. The study adopts a critical approach based on theoretical review, complemented by the analysis of emblematic case studies, such as the Porto Maravilha project in Rio de Janeiro and Nova Luz in São Paulo. Methodological tools include a bibliographic review and qualitative analysis of urban policies, focusing on gentrification, real estate speculation, and social resistance. The findings indicate that urban instruments, such as preemptive rights and special urban adverse possession, are often rendered ineffective due to a lack of political will and pressure from economic elites. It is observed that urban policies, under the guise of sustainability, deepen territorial inequalities and prioritize economic valorization over collective interests. On the other hand, social movements, such as the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST), directly challenge the dominant logic and advocate for the right to the city. The study concludes that urban governance in Brazil operates as a mechanism of exclusion and reproduction of structural inequalities, masked by discourses of modernization and sustainability. Reconfiguring cities requires a break from this logic, prioritizing governance practices committed to social justice and the effective democratization of decision-making processes.