Urban peripheries in Portugal: a conceptual and epistemological itinerary

Abstract

The word ‘peripheries’ has firmly entered the academic lexicon in Portugal. Until a few years ago, Portuguese academic literature mainly focused on the concept of suburbia, associating it with the suburbanization process in its analysis. This new framing of urban peripheries highlights a broader range of approaches, which do not always align, and introduce new epistemologies and analytical perspectives. In this article, we review the literature on the concept of urban peripheries in Portugal over the past few decades, engaging with broader processes of socio-spatial segregation, institutional racism, and public policies. Brazilian literature has also been incorporated into this debate, contributing to a more informed and relevant understanding of the concept for academia and the communities living in peripheral areas.