“From Informal Occupation to Urban Consolidation: The Case ofCiudad de Dios and the Struggles for Social Integration in Marginal Settlements.”

Abstract

This article addresses the phenomenon of informal settlements from their origin to their consolidation, with an emphasis on the processes that, despite time and partial formalization, fail to ensure effective social integration. A literature review is conducted on the structural causes that lead to this type of land occupation, as well as the mechanisms through which these settlements become physically consolidated neighborhoods, without necessarily resulting in urbaninclusion or equitable access to services and opportunities. Subsequently, the case of Ciudad de Dios, a settlement located on the northwestern periphery of Guayaquil, Ecuador, is analyzed. Based on a technical diagnosis, it is identified how this area has evolved from an irregular occupation to a consolidated settlement in terms of land occupation, but with low levels of formal consolidation and social integration. It is concluded that physical consolidation does not guarantee full integration unless social, institutional, and territorial factors are addressed in a coordinated and sustainable manner.