Which Came First, Neighbourhood or Community? —Community Construction in a Self-Built Neighbourhood

• Published in: Polish sociological review Vol. 217; no. 1; pp. 65 - 78
• Main Author: Silvonen, Taru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warsaw Polish Sociological Association 2022; Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne; Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne (Polish Sociological Association)
• Subjects: Agricultural research; Case studies; Collaboration; Debates; Ethnography; Infrastructure; Neighborhoods; Social interaction; Social networks; Social research; Social Sciences; Sociology; Support networks; Urban areas; Urban development; Urban planning; Urban population; Urbanization; Mexico; selfbuild urbanisation; Community formation; neighbourhood; case study; Mexico City
• ISSN: 1231-1413; 2657-4276
• DOI: 10.26412/psr217.04

The interest in changing social ties in urban neighbourhoods has generated sociological debatefor decades. This paper contributes to this debate by focusing on the relationship between community andneighbourhood formation in the development of an informal settlement. While informal urbanisation is widelyresearched, the attention is usually placed on urban planning and development rather than a socio-spatial aspect.Drawing on an ethnographic case study, this paper analyses the transformation of agricultural land to urbansettlement following residents’ self-organisation in Mexico City. The case study shows how social ties developedalongside collaboration between residents, highlighting a relationship between the social and spatial processes.Collaborative processes from small neighbour groups to broader neighbourhood-wide projects that contributed tothe delivery of basic services and urban infrastructure also enabled the formation of community support networks.The findings highlight the intertwined nature of community and neighbourhood formation.