ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the processes of historical-structural urban transformation in the Latin American region generally and in Mexico specifically. In addition to the pre-Columbian and colonial legacy, demographic, economic and political shifts have had major impacts on the shape of today’s urban reality. Urbanisation in Latin America and Mexico in the last century had several outstanding results: they were already highly urbanised; they became demographically urban within less than two generations due to their urban explosion; compared to the rest of the world they had the highest urban primacy; and their cities featured several of the worst symptoms of underdevelopment. More recent urbanisation trends include the emergence of urban sprawl and metropolisation, which are key characteristics in the Latin American urban context. As a result of the broken positive link between urbanisation and development, urban trends disclose the presence of several problems and challenges in Latin American cities, which are regarded as the most unequal and often the most dangerous places in the world, with social, economic and spatial divisions deeply rooted in urban society. With few exceptions, the region lacks an urban planning model that delivers economic growth and a good quality of life to urban populations.
