Abstract
This thesis explores how mega-event plans and policies, namely the Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora (UPP – Police Pacification Programme), affected the favela community of Morro dos Prazeres (Prazeres). Research to date has signified that there is a significant lack of empirical investigation into the social impacts from mega-events, particularly upon marginalised, underprivileged, and ethnic minority groups. This research contributes to existing literature by fostering a deeper understanding of the issues that threaten and destroy local host communities, simultaneously giving voice to those who are so often ignored. It has revealed various socio-cultural effects from the UPP in Prazeres that brought about many traumatic disruptions for the community and how the UPP assisted with community grassroot programmes and tourism initiatives by ensuring the safety of external visitors.Exploration into the socio-cultural effects of the UPP revealed that the community suffered various traumatic episodes, exacerbating existing social conditions of historical marginalisation and exclusion. By drawing on the theoretical concepts of cultural trauma and resilience, this study demonstrates how these two aspects can complement one another during episodes of exogenous shocks and disruptions for conceptualising the effects of socio-cultural trauma and coping strategies. For the purposes of this study, specific focus is given to Rio de Janeiro’s (Rio) 2016 Olympic Games, as this is considered the key catalyst for achieving regeneration in the city and hosting a series of events in the lead up to the Games. It is reported that this was the main objective for implementing the UPP in many of Rio’s favelas within the Olympic corridor and tourist transit routes. However, it is important to reflect on how certain event policies (e.g., urban regeneration; pacification, (re)housing programmes) contributed to the issues affecting Rio’s favelas, directly and/or indirectly, throughout the city’s 10-year event history to understand how the socio-cultural dynamics of these communities have been disrupted through a series of traumatic changes.
In-depth qualitative data were generated within a case study methodology complemented by a methodological bricolage approach permitting the use of multi-method techniques (semi-structured and unstructured interviews, mini-focus groups, walking methodology (observations), and a reflective field diary). Given the high-risk and complex research setting, it was appropriate to conduct research across three phases: pilot study (1), preliminary stage (2), and final stage (3). Accessing high-risk and hard-to-reach populations like Rio’s favelas can be problematic, dangerous, and unpredictable. Therefore, I adopted a process of ‘de-risking’ the research setting through leveraging digital (WhatsApp) and physical (in field) spaces for building trust and relationships between me as the researcher and my participants. My research sample was selected through a purposive snowballing technique with people living and working in Prazeres, working externally, or those who supported the community projects and grassroot programmes. The data were analysed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA), which inductively identified patterns in the profuse amounts of data for interpretation of individual experiences surrounding the UPP implementation. Simultaneously, the centrality of researcher subjectivity and reflexivity was considered throughout the research.
Exploration of participant narratives identified that the UPP was instrumental in creating both positive and negative issues in the community. The implementation of the UPP in how this policy was introduced as part of Rio’s mega-event staging, contributing to the socio-cultural trauma of Prazeres. It refers to the historic tactics adopted by governments in their approach to tackle ‘urban (dis)integration’ and the ‘War on Drugs’, which subsequently informed the trajectory of the UPP. The study found that the UPP had facilitated opportunities that may not have been possible without their presence given the precarious landscape. Serendipitous opportunities empowered the community of Prazeres to develop grassroot projects that supported young, vulnerable people in building transferable skills, deterring them from being recruited into criminal groups. In the lead up to Rio 2016, conflict started between the UPP and criminal groups, resulting in devastating violence and conflict. The socio-cultural trauma emerging from these violent episodes was detrimental to the community projects and tourism initiatives, which resulted in their postponement and cancellation. Despite these exogenous shocks and traumatogenic changes, the community displayed resilience through continued innovation and creativity.
It is recommended that future host cities and organising committees (e.g., IOC, FIFA, government planners and organisers; tourism bodies) ensure that community integration and development is considered in mega-event bidding, planning, staging, and legacy to minimise the trauma that these global events bring to host communities, particularly marginalised and ethnic minority groups. Furthermore, this research identifies the unique complexities of one favela community affected by mega-event plans and policies, which highlights the need for further empirical single and comparative studies into the social effects upon marginalised, socially excluded, and ethnic minority groups.
Key words: Favelas; Rio de Janeiro; mega-events; UPP; cultural trauma; resilience; violence; conflict.
| Date of Award | 1 Jun 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Sally Everett (Supervisor) & Kieran Mitton (Supervisor) |