“We are not invasores, we are an asociación”

Research on Arequipa's peripheral settlements reveals that legality is not binary but hybrid, challenging conventional distinctions between formal and informal spaces. The study finds that 'invasores' and their associated areas, often perceived as illegal, are partially structured by formal legal frameworks, particularly through the status of 'asociación.' This legal status allows communities to distance themselves from stigmatized labels while navigating complex urban landscapes. The analysis employs historical and empirical approaches to examine land use changes and the evolving meanings of 'invasor' and 'asociación,' offering a nuanced perspective on informality in secondary cities of the Global South.

Raoul, M. (2025). “We are not invasores, we are an asociación”. Hybrid Urbanisms in Secondary Cities of the Global South, 151–164. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003511137-13