The formation of social organizations and their attempts to consolidate settlements and neighbourhoods undergoing transition in Buenos Aires

This paper examines the formation of social organizations in the two forms of urban habitat most commonly used by low-income groups in Buenos Aires th e invasion of vacant land, mostly in peripheral areas, and the occupation o f vacant buildings within the city centre. In the first, community organiza tions ave widespread, of long standing and relatively effective. They helpe d develop (and negotiate for) basic infrastructure and services and helped negotiate land tenure. Government agencies recognize them and work with the m. In the second, community organizations are less evident and less effecti ve, in part because the illegally occupied buildings are scattered between those legally owned by higher-income groups, in part because the inhabitant s seek to disguise their illegal status and in part because government orga nizations do nor recognize the legitimacy of such organizations and have ma de no provision to allow their tenure to be regularized.