Un análisis histórico-crítico del fenómeno de las favelas en Rio de Janeiro/Brasil

The occupation of urban space in Brazil is a reflection of the historical contradictions and internal struggles of society itself. Studying the phenomenon of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, we have tried to understand how they historically constituted a relevant topic for Brazilian society and how its population reacts and strives for better living conditions. Problems, challenges, resistance, popular movements, ideologies, the strength of the State, the power struggle and the conflict generated by the occupation of the urban land, the housing issue and the reflections of inequality and social exclusion were discussed.  We identified multiple proposals for social development and sought to understand how the different models of urbanization in the city consider the favela as a cause or as a consequence of various social problems in large Brazilian cities. Finally, characterizing the forces in dispute, we analyze the phenomenon in the current context of rapid changes in which the city lives on account of the real estate speculation promoted by its internationalization