International Journal of Architectural Research Camila Cociña Varas and Camillo Boano Archnet-IJAR, Volume 7 - Issue 3 - November 2013 - (57-79) – Special Issue 57 Copyright © 2013 Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research HOUSING AND RECONSTRUCTION IN CHILE (2010-2012): Institutional and social transformation in post-disaster contexts Camila Cociña Varas 1 and Camillo Boano 2 University College London 1 camilacocina@gmail.com 2 c.boano@ucl.ac.uk Abstract Stemming from the assumption that disasters present unique conditions to rethink the associations and relationships among different actors, while acknowledging post disaster reconstruction as a political process that may generate momentum for institutional transformation; this article discusses the institutional responses to housing in such a transformative moment. Grounding the empirical terrain into the 2010 Chilean earthquake, the article is concerned with how the institutional response to housing needs has been influenced by the neoliberal context and civil society in the aftermath of the event. Its objective is to review the changes in housing policy over this period, and to what extent these changes are proposing a new social order, or consolidating the existing one; to what extent civil society claims can challenge contexts of exclusion; and to what extent the actors’ roles change or remain static. To do so, it develops a series of criteria to apply to the reconstruction process and housing policy transformation that took place after the earthquake. The main findings show that the institutional responses have promoted the consolidation of a model rather than a transformative process. By contrast, social organisations have embraced elements of transformation towards collective capability strengthening that are not necessarily recognised by formal institutions. Keywords: housing policy; reconstruction; Chile; institutional transformation; right to the city; neoliberalism. INTRODUCTION “I propose to consider the construction of reciprocal actions and, particularly, the reciprocal determination of subjects at the core of political practice” (Lechner, 2006:162 [author’s translation]). The process of production of a social order based on a reciprocal determination of different actors is difficult to achieve. There are moments, however, that give rise to exceptional conditions that may trigger such processes. Disasters affect both human and non-human agents, presenting unique conditions to rethink the associations that are linking them. A disaster can imply the strengthening or reordering of those relationships and the roles that they play. Reconstruction is a political process that may generate momentum for institutional transformation, challenging the position and capabilities of State, private sector and civil society alike. Due to its central role in reconstruction, institutional responses to housing needs can play a critical role in such transformations (Boano and Hunter, 2012). In 2010 a devastating earthquake affected Chile’s most populous area. Its timing coincided with the beginning of the first right-wing government in 20 years, and with the emergence of emboldened social movements. This article is concerned with how the institutional response to housing needs has been influenced by the neoliberal context and civil society claims since the earthquake in 2010. Its aim is to review the changes in housing policy over this period, and determine to what extent these changes are proposing a new social order, or consolidating