One of the central nodes of capitalist circulation in Latin America is a city you may have never heard of. It is also, by some accounts, the largest illicit economy in the hemisphere – raising the question of how central transgression is to the circulation and globalization of capitalism. The city in question is Ciudad del Este, a Paraguayan city at the border with Brazil and it is the subject of Jennifer Tucker's new book "Outlaw Capital, Everyday Illegalities and the Making of Uneven Development".
Tucker explores the city's history, beginning with her connection to Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunteer, and delves into the complexities of street vending, the intertwining of legal and illegal economic activities, and the racialized and class-based disparities within these practices. She weaves personal stories of street vendors with the spatial and economic transformation of Ciudad del Este through malls and informal trade, and the state's role in shaping and sustaining these practices. The episode critically examines how contraband and informal economies are legitimized and contested, offering insights into broader themes of globalization, urban development, and
social justice.
00:00 Introduction to Sur Urbano and Guest Jennifer Tucker
00:15 Exploring Street Vendor Life in Ciudad del Este
02:12 Unveiling 'Outlaw Capital': The Book on Ciudad del Este
02:34 Jennifer Tucker's Connection to Paraguay and Research Journey
03:53 The Dynamics of Ciudad del Este's Border Economy
08:18 Theoretical Insights: Outlaw Capital and Accumulation
of Transgression
29:29 Contraband Urbanism and the Struggle for Space
44:25 Methodology and Ethnographic Challenges
48:15 Recent Changes and Ongoing Struggles in Ciudad del
Este
51:50 Concluding Thoughts on Outlaw Economics and Urban
Futures
