Circulation and Use of Data in Peripheral Territories: Possibilities and Limits in Urban Transformation

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the debate on the production and circulation of data concerning peripheral territories, especially slums and informal settlements, seeking to overcome the frequent epistemological marginalization of its citizens and to explore the potential of such data to bring about transformation at the local level. The paper seeks to answer the following research question: what are the possibilities and limits of a process of production, circulation and use of data in peripheral territories? The work was carried out from a decolonial perspective and using a participatory action research methodology, involving female residents of a peripheral territory and university researchers. The data used stem from the analysis of official documents, legislation, reports, semi-structured interviews with key actors and accounts of activities such as workshops, assemblies and meetings. The results indicate that the process of production, circulation and use of data contributed to generate information and knowledge that did not exist before and to strengthen community mobilization and political action, as well as cooperation between residents and the city administration, which resulted in the inclusion of some community demands on the municipal government’s agenda as well as in urban improvements in the territory. Furthermore, the active participation of female residents as researchers and the use of research instruments that provide horizontality contributed to enhance the project, even though there were difficulties in applying some of the technological research instruments.