Esta pesquisa parte do pressuposto de que a Internet é um dispositivo sociotécnico não apenas indissociável do espaço geográfico, mas primordialmente tecido a partir das relações espaciais que o animam e que dele derivam. Estas relações espaciais e sociotécnicas produzem o incessante efeito de reconfiguração da geografia da Internet, enquanto espaço em movimento. O argumento desta tese é a de que a espacialidade da Internet define-se a partir de três dimensões complementares, a saber: uma dimensão de conectividade, responsável pela constituição do espaço reticular; uma dimensão lógica/informacional, a partir da qual o espaço virtual (ciberespaço) ganha forma; e uma dimensão normativa, encarregada da regulação da produção e usos da Internet. Argumentamos ainda que as relações e expressões espaciais que se formam no processo de configuração dessas dimensões possuem naturezas distintas, de acordo com o lócus de onde se originam os sujeitos, bem como de acordo com o projeto político de Internet que estes promovem e idealizam. O espaço da Internet define-se, desse modo, a partir de geometrias de poder que promovem políticas espaciais verticais ou hierárquicas de um lado e políticas espaciais horizontais ou distribuídas de outro. Considerando os argumentos supracitados, a hipótese central que aportamos é a de que a fricção entre as verticalidades e as horizontalidades socioespaciais, que se desenvolvem no processo de apropriação da aqui apresentada tridimensionalidade da Internet, despertam as territorialidades dos diversos setores da sociedade, dentre as quais as políticas espaciais horizontais promovidas intencionalmente pela sociedade civil possuem relevância no constante refazer das geometrias de poder da Internet. Para testar essa hipótese, empregamos quatro abordagens metodológicas: a análise de documentos e arquivos históricos relacionados ao desenvolvimento das redes digitais; pesquisa on-line para coleta de dados sobre organizações relacionadas ao nosso escopo; trabalho de campo em eventos voltados para a discussão e desenvolvimento de políticas para a Internet; entrevistas com integrantes de organizações civis que promovem ações de normatização, gestão, contestação e apropriação da Internet. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam uma densa presença de organizações civis em cada uma das dimensões investigadas, associada a uma capacidade de articulação entre entidades com habilidades e competências distintas para a construção de uma agenda comum e maior capacidade de incidência. / This research is based on the assumption that the Internet is a sociotechnical device not only inseparable from geographical space, but primarily woven from the spatial relations that animate and derive from it. These spatial and sociotechnical relations produce the incessant effect of reconfiguration of the geography of the Internet, as space in movement. The argument of this thesis is that the spatiality of the Internet is defined from three complementary dimensions, namely: a connectivity dimension, responsible for the constitution of the reticular space; a logical / informational dimension, from which the virtual space (cyberspace) takes shape; and a normative dimension, in charge of the regulation of the production and uses of the Internet. We also argue that the socio-spatial relationships that form in the process of configuring these dimensions have different natures according to the locus from which the actors originate, as well as according to the Internet political project that they promote and idealize. The Internet space is thus defined from power geometries that promote vertical or hierarchical spatial policies on the one hand and horizontal or distributed spatial policies on the other. Considering the aforementioned arguments, the central hypothesis we present is that the friction between the verticalities and the socio-spatial horizontalities that develop in the process of appropriation of the presented three-dimensionality of the Internet, awaken the territorialities of the various sectors of society, among which horizontalities intentionally promoted by civil society have relevance in the constant reconfiguration of the power geometries of the Internet. To test this hypothesis, we used four methodological approaches: the analysis of historical documents and archives related to the development of digital networks; search online for data collection on organizations related to our scope; fieldwork on events aimed at the discussion and development of policies for the Internet; interviews with members of civil organizations that promote standardization, management, contestation and appropriation of the Internet. The results of the research reveal a dense presence of civil organizations in each of the investigated dimensions, associated with a capacity of articulation between entities with distinct abilities and competences for the construction of a common agenda and greater capacity of incidence.

Originating from a disenfranchisement with the contemporary definition and realisation of Westernised architecture as a commodity and product, this thesis seeks to explore alternative examples of positive socio-spatial practice and agency. These alternative spatial practices and methodologies are drawn from participatory and grass-roots development agency in informal settlements and contexts of economic absence, most notably in the global South. This thesis explores whether such examples can be interpreted as practical realisations of key theoretical advocacies for positive social space that have emerged in the context of post-Second World-War capitalism. The principal methodological framework utilises two differing trajectories of spatial discourse. Firstly, Henri Lefebvre and Doreen Massey as formative protagonists of Western spatial critique, and secondly, John F. C. Turner and Nabeel Hamdi as key advocates of participatory development practice in informal settlements. These two research trajectories are notably separated by geographical, economic and political differentiations, as well as conventional disciplinary boundaries. However by undertaking a close textual reading of these discourses this thesis critically re-contextualises the socio-spatial methodologies of participatory development practice, observing multiple theoretical convergences and provocative commonalities. This research proposes that by critically comparing these previously unconnected disciplinary trajectories certain similarities, resonances and equivalences become apparent. These resonances reveal comparable critiques of choice, value, and identity which transcend the gap between such differing theoretical and practical engagements with space. Subsequently, these thematic resonances allow this research to critically engage with further appropriate surrounding discourses, including Marxist theory, orientalism, post- structural pluralism, development anthropology, post-colonial theory and subaltern theory. 5 In summary, this thesis explores aspects of Henri Lefebvre's and Doreen Massey's urban and spatial theory through a close textual reading of key texts from their respective discourses. This methodology provides a layered analysis of post-Marxist urban space, and an exploration of an explicit connection between Lefebvre and Massey in terms of the social production and multiplicity of space. Subsequently, this examination provides a theoretical framework from which to reinterpret and revalue the approaches to participatory development practice found in the writings and projects of John Turner and Nabeel Hamdi. The resulting comparative framework generates interconnected thematic trajectories of enquiry that facilitate the re-reading and critical reflection of Turner and Hamdi's development practices. Thus, selected Western spatial discourse acts as a critical lens through which to re-value the social, political and economical achievements of participatory development. Reciprocally, development practice methodologies are recognised as invaluable and provocative realisations of the socio-spatial qualities that Western spatial discourse has long advocated for, and yet have remained predominantly unrealised in the global North.