From Dust to Dust: Experiences of Urban Violence in Guayaquil and Quito

This research project addresses the recurring issue of urban violence in Latin American cities, exacerbated by structural changes that have increased inequality, poverty, and marginalization. It specifically focuses on young homeless individuals who develop a counter-hegemonic social 'habitus,' often sustained by an illegal/informal street economy, including the use and sale of drugs like cocaine base paste, as a survival strategy. The investigation seeks to understand how this consumption relates to the daily violence they experience or perpetrate. The primary methodology employed will be in-depth ethnography, supplemented by participant observation and in-depth interviews with key informants. The study aims to detail the social, cultural, and economic dynamics that complicate the daily lives of these consumers, tracing their life stories, survival strategies, and exposure to urban violence. Fieldwork will be complemented by ethnophotographic records and the analysis of statistics related to drug micro-trafficking and urban violence.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>The main objective is to study the habitus of young homeless individuals and analyze their direct relationship with the phenomena of violence, delinquency, and drug use/sales, specifically focusing on cocaine base paste.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>nan