The Western Frontier: The Origin of the Slums of Mexicali, Baja California

Abstract

The urban structure of Mexicali, Baja California cannot be explained without its geopolitical, topographical or sociocultural frontiers, which have shaped spaces of production and habitation, primarily for the city's workforce. This article puts forward a reading of its urban morphology based around its poor neighborhoods, considering their frontiers to be a key element. It thus seeks to answer the question: What is the origin of Mexicali's slums? The theoretical-conceptual framework, of a neo-Marxist nature, is followed by a historical overview that describes the origins of the city's slums, concluding with a critical reflection on the production of housing in Mexico.