Bogotá’s Other Worlds

Abstract

The special issue of Astrágalo on Bogotá joins previous editions dedicated to other cities such as Seville and Delhi, exploring the cultural richness of diverse urban centres. “Bogotá Pluriversal” aligns with debates on sick cities, divided cities, and those with gender-focused approaches, although it leaves relevant topics unaddressed, such as the Manzanas del Cuidado initiative or educational programmes. The call for contributions was based on Arturo Escobar’s ideas on ontological re-equipment and pluriversal politics, as well as studies on divided cities by Roberto Fernández, examining urban segregation and conflict. The vision of Bogotá as a Latin American hub involves rethinking its relationship with the ancestral territory of Bacatá, balancing development and sustainability. The concept of a pluriversal city seeks to include multiple realities and ways of inhabiting urban space, promoting reconnection with the planet through actions such as productive relocalisation, de-patriarchalisation, and decolonisation. This edition presents an opportunity to showcase Bogotá’s contemporary dynamics in contrast to Medellín’s media prominence, moving away from twentieth-century modernity to analyse its consequences and propose alternatives to socio-environmental challenges. The city faces issues of conurbation, climate crisis, and migration tensions, which require integrated and diverse solutions. Thus, this partial portrait of Bogotá highlights evolving realities and the need to continue exploring its urban complexity from plural perspectives.