THE SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN BUENOS AIRES: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

Abstract

Often conceptualized mostly simply as the relationship between people, the environment, and economics, sustainable development has become a popular buzzword. Without regard for consistency or social implications, sustainable development has continued to advance, branching out into operational policies as well. In particular, cities have often been identified as laying the groundwork for sustainable development both in theory and practice, representing a uniquely impactful testing ground for many of these policies. However, sustainable development in an urban context provides not only opportunities but also brings to light understudied obstacles. One challenge, which is often neglected at nearly all applications of sustainable development is social sustainability. In this paper, I propose that socio-spatial awareness is an essential factor in the equation for successful sustainable development outcomes. I test this assertion through a comparative case study of two sub-city sites in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ultimately, I find that by better understanding the relationships people form with their spaces, a positive sustainable development outcome is both more achievable and more likely.