The cold war in the favelas and the poblaciones, 1945-1964. A conflict between communists and the Catholic Church = La guerra fría en las favelas y las poblaciones, 1945-1964. Una disputa entre comunistas e Iglesia Católica

The "favelas" of Rio de Janeiro and the "poblaciones" of Santiago de Chile were usually visited by external actors. It is through the accounts of social workers, students, political activists or volunteers that we know about the histories of these places. With the beginning of the cold war, the presence of these individuals took on a new meaning. In this backdrop, the conflict between the communists and the Catholic Church for the hegemony over the low-income neighborhoods, which sometimes led to violent confrontations, took a central stage. Yet, the activities developed by these institutions strengthened the organization of the inhabitants and physically improved these neighborhoods, fostering their urban, social and political integration.