Economia, política e território: o plano diretor de São Paulo

Abstract

The fast course of urbanization and technological changes throughout the last decades

create a new world power geography, in which large cities and regions gain increasing

importance at global economic and political levels. The present Thesis examines those

transformations, arguing that focus on local governments or urban spaces do not

necessarily mean that Nation-States are loosing importance. Despite all changes, they

remain the fundamental support for regional policies, hence giving sustainability and

coherence to local development strategies.

The case study concentrates on the City of São Paulo, privileged scenery to examine

changes occured both in Brazil and on the planet. Based on the metropolitan economic

centrality recognition - reinforced in the last years -, it discusses limits and

potentialities of the municipal public power to face challenges in managing a City that is

economically dynamic and socially uneven. The Strategic Master Plan, approved in

2002, is chosen as a paradigm of possible changes, directed towards land use policies.

The Thesis points out virtues and eventual failures of the Plan.

To restore capacity of action of the Nation-State, and also the different public spheres of

governance at every geographic scale - from local to global -, to build a renewed

democratic institutionality at all levels, adopting articulated regional policies and

emphasizing economical and territorial plans to strengthen metropolitan governance are,

at last, highlighted as requirements towards comprehensive economic development with

social inclusion, in São Paulo, Brazil and the World-System