Abstract

OEHMICHEN, Cristina. Cancun: social polarization as a paradigm in a Mexican tourist resort. Alteridades [online]. 2010, vol.20, n.40, pp.23-34. ISSN 2448-850X.

The reorganization of the spacial basis of capital reproduction at global level and its territorialization in diverse parts of the planet, has materialized in Mexico in the creation and promotion of new centres of touristic attraction. Cancun is a model and paradigm of development and the reconfiguration of the whole country as a Mexican Tourist Resort: a model that generates "cities on the periphery" that has an elegant centre, pristine, globaly connected, surrounded of shops and services of international prestige, but also has belts of poverty belts pauperized workers lodge. In this article I reflect on the emergence of new non-places and the social identity processes that take place in these socio-spacial configurations -highly polarized and exclusive.

Keywords : tourism; Cancun; "cities on the edge".