Inequalities as sources of urban dynamics in the historic center of Lisbon

Abstract

In the 1980s, the historic center of Lisbon became a major challenge for local public actors who have tried to make it the window of the capital city and one of the drivers of the urban dynamics. Unlike what was described by the Anglo-Saxons in the 1960s, socio-spatial gentrification never appears as a goal. Instead, public policies clearly seek to maintain and help the long-established population in the historic neighborhoods of the capital city. This effort is reflected in the statistics or in the persistent inequalities observed in the territory. Far from being a handicap, it seems that these policies are a driving force of the urban dynamics in the old city center.