Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

Historic city centres are much more than an assemblage of buildings, streets, and façades. These places hold many layers and meanings behind it in relation to sociocultural practices that enable not just to use the space, but to create membership and belonging. This research calls attention to the link between local cultures, intangible practices, and built environment as an intersection to further comprehend citizen security. Taking the term of citizen culture and security provides a relevant analysis to examine the historic city centre in Celaya, a city in Mexico facing high levels of violence due to organised crime and drug conflicts. The two main squares that compose the centre become portals of hope and a security spheres were community members find feelings of pride and harmony during the yearly fests and festivals organised by community corporations and government support where local identity overflows to the great neoclassic architecture culminating in impressive industrial structures. This research captures participants’ perspectives on the uses of city centres, sociocultural practices, and sense of security through a critical ethnography; accordingly, gathering crucial insights in understanding such spaces as a collection of deep and complex layers of both tangible and intangible aspects. This dialogue points out to understanding city centres as places that are composed of much more than constructions, but of local traditions that play a bigger role in securitising communities surrounded by violence, leading to a sense of hope and security.