The interest on this work emerges out of the aspiration to explore the cultural production about the U.S-Mexican border on its broadest interdisciplinary context. The intention is to analyze contemporary aesthetic representations of the Mexican border space in recent Mexican and Mexican American narratives. In this analysis, subsequent to an exploration of stereotyped images of the “West” of the United State and the “North” of Mexico since the beginning of XIX century, our intent is to compare and contrast two main perspectives when representing Mexican border spaces in fictitious narratives. In the 1980’s Mexico sponsored, in a plan to promote cultural production along its border states, a new group of border artists ascend. This effort had its fruitful results and it offered a new perspective and point of view when producing Mexican border representations. Our goal is to emphasize the differences between border representation made by centralist Mexican writers and border writers. To accomplish the goal I the theories used are the proposed by Henri Lefebvre in his The Production of Space, Luz Aurora Pimentel in El espacio en la ficción, ficciones espaciales: la representación del espacio en los textos narratives, and Terry Eagleton in Ideology: An Introduction. Lefebvre and Pimentel discuss the aesthetic production of space as instruments to conceive and perceive the descriptors’ ideology and social values. In the first chapter there is a discussion of the different theories used in this project. The second chapter offers an overview of how border spaces have been represented in fictitious and historical texts produced by American and Mexican writers since the beginning of the XIX century. In the third, fourth and fifth chapters we analyze the representation of Mexican border space in “Malintzin de las maquilas” by Carlos Fuentes, Sueños de frontera by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Santitos by María Amparo Escandón, El gran Preténder by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite, and Peregrinos de Aztlán by Miguel Méndez.

Esta pesquisa da tese de doutorado tratou de compreender como a mulher brasileira e boliviana contribui para a (re)produção do espaço transfronteiriço das cidades-gêmeas de Corumbá, no Brasil, e das cidades de Puerto Quijarro e Puerto Suarez, na Bolívia. A abordagem geográfica sobre o trabalho produtivo e reprodutivo da mulher teve como pressuposto a produção do espaço, uma vez que a divisão social do trabalho implica em divisão sexual do trabalho, ou seja, o trabalho feminino é uma questão de análise do espaço (ROSSINI, 1988). Observou-se que a pesquisa de Gênero na Geografia tem como propósito entender a organização desse espaço transfronteiriço a partir do uso da força de trabalho feminino no comércio, onde as mulheres organizam a atividade concomitante a reprodução social. O princípio norteador do método da pesquisa foi a formação sócioespacial das cidades-gêmeas entre Brasil e Bolívia e revelou os vários períodos de ocupação desse espaço fronteiriço. Duas frentes de ocupação se destacaram no estudo, pois potencializaram as relações transfronteiriças ao longo das décadas de 1990 e 2000: a circulação de produtos industrializados provenientes de várias fronteiras, como a brasileira, a chilena, a peruana e a argentina; e a expansão do comércio popular, especialmente de confecção, para as fronteiras bolivianas com uso da força de trabalho feminina. Sobretudo, no que se refere à base teórica metodológica sobre o trabalho feminino na área de fronteira, a investigação orientou-se pelas análises socioeconômica, espacial e pelo conceito da divisão sexual do trabalho. A pesquisa evidenciou a importância das famílias, empresas e agentes governamentais consolidados nos territórios de fronteira, pois funcionam como organismos sociais do Estado ratzeliano. Adotou-se a pesquisa qualitativa por meio de observações, imagens fotográficas, reportagens e noticiários da imprensa local, bem como, de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e informais para a coleta de dados nas cidades-gêmeas de fronteira. Em termos gerais, constatou-se que as mulheres que trabalham no comércio do circuito inferior das cidades-gêmeas entre Brasil e Bolívia foram as responsáveis pela pulverização das relações transfronteiriças, mediante as formas de organização dos negócios e do trabalho e, principalmente, pelo estreitamento dos laços familiares. Portanto, revelou-se que a atividade comercial operacionalizada pela mulher faz dela importante articuladora dos arranjos territoriais da fronteira. / This doctoral dissertation deals with the comprehension of how the Brazilian and Bolivian woman contributes to the reproduction of the transboundary space from Corumba\'s twin cities, in Brazil, and in Bolivian cities Puerto Quijaro and Puerto Suarez. The geographic approach about the productive and reproductive work of woman supposes the production of space, once that the social division of work implies in sexual division of work, so the female labour is a matter of analysis of space (ROSSINI, 1988). The gender research in Geography has as purpose to understand the spatial organization of this cross-border space, from the use of the womens workforce in the trade, where the women organize the activity concomitantly with the social reproduction. The research method had as mainspring principle the socio-spatial of the twin-cities border between Brazil and Bolivia and revealed the several periods of occupation of this border space. Two occupancy fronts highlighted in the study, which potentiate the cross-border relationship, over the 1990s and 2000s: the circulation of industrialized products from several borders, as the Brazilian, Chilean, Peruvian, Argentinian; and the popular expansion trade, especially of clothing manufacture, for the Bolivian borders with the use of womens work. Especially as regards to the methodologic theoretical base about the womens work in the border area, the investigation was oriented by the socioeconomic analysis, spatial and by the concept of sexual division of work. The research evidenced the importance of the families, business and governmental agents consolidated in the border territory, since they work as social organisms of ratzelian State. The qualitative research were adopted by means of observations, photograph images, news and local press news, as well the semi structured and informal interviews for the data collection in the twin-cities border. Generally speaking, it was found that the women working in the trade of the low circuits from twin-cities between Brazil and Bolivia, were the responsible for the spraying of the cross-borders relationships, by means of organization modes from the business, work and manly by the narrowing of the family bond. Therefore, it was revealed that the business activity operationalized by woman makes her an important articulator of the border territorial arrangements.

Esta pesquisa da tese de doutorado tratou de compreender como a mulher brasileira e boliviana contribui para a (re)produção do espaço transfronteiriço das cidades-gêmeas de Corumbá, no Brasil, e das cidades de Puerto Quijarro e Puerto Suarez, na Bolívia. A abordagem geográfica sobre o trabalho produtivo e reprodutivo da mulher teve como pressuposto a produção do espaço, uma vez que a divisão social do trabalho implica em divisão sexual do trabalho, ou seja, o trabalho feminino é uma questão de análise do espaço (ROSSINI, 1988). Observou-se que a pesquisa de Gênero na Geografia tem como propósito entender a organização desse espaço transfronteiriço a partir do uso da força de trabalho feminino no comércio, onde as mulheres organizam a atividade concomitante a reprodução social. O princípio norteador do método da pesquisa foi a formação sócioespacial das cidades-gêmeas entre Brasil e Bolívia e revelou os vários períodos de ocupação desse espaço fronteiriço. Duas frentes de ocupação se destacaram no estudo, pois potencializaram as relações transfronteiriças ao longo das décadas de 1990 e 2000: a circulação de produtos industrializados provenientes de várias fronteiras, como a brasileira, a chilena, a peruana e a argentina; e a expansão do comércio popular, especialmente de confecção, para as fronteiras bolivianas com uso da força de trabalho feminina. Sobretudo, no que se refere à base teórica metodológica sobre o trabalho feminino na área de fronteira, a investigação orientou-se pelas análises socioeconômica, espacial e pelo conceito da divisão sexual do trabalho. A pesquisa evidenciou a importância das famílias, empresas e agentes governamentais consolidados nos territórios de fronteira, pois funcionam como organismos sociais do Estado ratzeliano. Adotou-se a pesquisa qualitativa por meio de observações, imagens fotográficas, reportagens e noticiários da imprensa local, bem como, de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e informais para a coleta de dados nas cidades-gêmeas de fronteira. Em termos gerais, constatou-se que as mulheres que trabalham no comércio do circuito inferior das cidades-gêmeas entre Brasil e Bolívia foram as responsáveis pela pulverização das relações transfronteiriças, mediante as formas de organização dos negócios e do trabalho e, principalmente, pelo estreitamento dos laços familiares. Portanto, revelou-se que a atividade comercial operacionalizada pela mulher faz dela importante articuladora dos arranjos territoriais da fronteira. / This doctoral dissertation deals with the comprehension of how the Brazilian and Bolivian woman contributes to the reproduction of the transboundary space from Corumba\'s twin cities, in Brazil, and in Bolivian cities Puerto Quijaro and Puerto Suarez. The geographic approach about the productive and reproductive work of woman supposes the production of space, once that the social division of work implies in sexual division of work, so the female labour is a matter of analysis of space (ROSSINI, 1988). The gender research in Geography has as purpose to understand the spatial organization of this cross-border space, from the use of the womens workforce in the trade, where the women organize the activity concomitantly with the social reproduction. The research method had as mainspring principle the socio-spatial of the twin-cities border between Brazil and Bolivia and revealed the several periods of occupation of this border space. Two occupancy fronts highlighted in the study, which potentiate the cross-border relationship, over the 1990s and 2000s: the circulation of industrialized products from several borders, as the Brazilian, Chilean, Peruvian, Argentinian; and the popular expansion trade, especially of clothing manufacture, for the Bolivian borders with the use of womens work. Especially as regards to the methodologic theoretical base about the womens work in the border area, the investigation was oriented by the socioeconomic analysis, spatial and by the concept of sexual division of work. The research evidenced the importance of the families, business and governmental agents consolidated in the border territory, since they work as social organisms of ratzelian State. The qualitative research were adopted by means of observations, photograph images, news and local press news, as well the semi structured and informal interviews for the data collection in the twin-cities border. Generally speaking, it was found that the women working in the trade of the low circuits from twin-cities between Brazil and Bolivia, were the responsible for the spraying of the cross-borders relationships, by means of organization modes from the business, work and manly by the narrowing of the family bond. Therefore, it was revealed that the business activity operationalized by woman makes her an important articulator of the border territorial arrangements.

Le lac Tchad étonne par sa singularité. Alors que le développement des autres grandes zones humides sahéliennes a reposé sur les périmètres irrigués, le sien a reposé sur la valorisation du mouvement des eaux par l'agriculture, l'élevage et la pêche, et par les mobilités. Quasi espace vierge dans les années 1940, le Lac est devenu une région densément peuplée et cosmopolite exportant des vivriers diversifiés sur les marchés urbains de la sous-région. À travers l'analyse des dynamiques agraires et territoriales de la fenêtre lacustre camerounaise, ce travail interroge les opportunités qu'offrent, dans un environnement incertain, le multiusage des ressources et les mobilités à l'intensification des processus productifs et à la densification démographique.Le renforcement des complémentarités et synergies entre activités dégage les voies d'une intensification écologique du mode d'exploitation et d'un développement territorial, créateurs de richesse et d'emplois. En favorisant l'émergence de rapports sociaux et d'institutions innovantes assurant l'accès aux ressources productives et aux marchés à une grande diversité de populations, le statut de marge territoriale de la fenêtre lacustre a été déterminant dans la dynamique d'intensification. L'incertitude hydro-écologique, économique et démographique a été intégrée au fonctionnement « normal » du système agraire et à celui de territoires qui se singularisent par leur mobilité. Aujourd'hui, c'est l'incertitude politique qui menace l'avenir du lac Tchad. Elle résulte des conflits de pouvoirs locaux constitutifs du rapport de l'État aux populations, et de l'action publique à travers les politiques agricoles et environnementales. / The Lake Chad is unique in the Sahelian band. Whereas large scale irrigated schemes has characterized the other wetlands, here the development of agriculture, cattle breeding and fishing has been based on the use of the water floods and on mobilities. Almost virgin until the 1940s, the Lake has become a highly populated and cosmopolitan area, exporting diversified foodstuffs to the urban markets of the sub-region. Through the analysis of agrarian and territorial dynamics of the Cameroonian lake shores, this research questions to which extent multi-use of the natural resources and mobilities may allow further agricultural intensification and population increase in such an uncertain environment.Closer complementarity and synergy between activities pave the way for ecological intensification and territorial development inducing wealth and job generation. Due to its marginal nature, the Cameroonian part of the Lake has been the place of continuous social innovations, ensuring to a great diversity of people the access to productive assets and markets. In this sense, it has been actually decisive for the dynamic of intensification. Hydro-ecological, economic and demographic uncertainty has been integrated into the “normal” functioning of the agrarian system and territory. Nowadays, the political uncertainty threatens the future of the Lake Chad. It results both from agricultural and environmental policies and from conflicts between local authorities, that are constitutives of the relation between the State and the populations.