Ciudades intermedias: dinámicas de intermediación desde la noción de lugar. El caso de la región de la Araucanía, Chile.

Abstract

The following article contributes to the discussion of intermediate cities and their dynamics of intermediation. Although it is recognized the theoretical advancement generated in this field of research in the recent years, the article questions its tendency to homogenize the understanding of these types of cities. The article suggests that it is necessary to comprehend the intermediate cities from their constitutive social practices. From this perspective, the notion of place is introduced as a vital aspect to understand the process of intermediation and the particularity of each urban system. From some key constitutive aspects of the notion of place suggested by Massey (2012) the article empirically examines social practices and tensions that are part of the dynamics of intermediation in three case studies. It is argued that this conceptual approach contributes to the development of a more appropriate and relational understanding of intermediate cities and their respective dynamics of intermediation. The area of study is in the La Araucanía Region, specifically in the intermediate and intercultural cities of Villarrica, Angol and Victoria.