Opportunities and Deprivation in the Urban South

'In this important book, Marques deftly reveals the mechanisms through which social networks contribute to the reproduction and the amelioration of poverty. Combining a deep knowledge of social theory with powerful analytical tools, the book has major implications for breaking the cycle of poverty in Brazil and throughout the world.' Chris Ansell, University of California, Berkeley, United States 'Marques has produced a groundbreaking study that eschews simple assumptions about social capital, instead revealing how networks actually function and how the poor and non-poor, in distinct areas of a mega-city, use them to accomplish important tasks. Methodologically innovative, the book not only advances our understanding of how and why networks matter but also lays new foundations for creative research, policy and program design. Required reading.' Xavier de Souza Briggs, MIT, USA '... a reference work not only for what it offers in terms of understanding the mechanisms of poverty (re)production in large metropolises, but also because of the compelling research agenda that it establishes for the future.' Brazilian Political Science Review '... this is an impressive scholarly work with original research on an important topic of urban and social policy. Marques makes a strong case for a consideration of the range of social networks and the degree of residential isolation in assessing individual prospects for ameliorating poverty... Given its theoretical clarity and methodological creativity, I recommend this book for those interested in understanding the local forces shaping poverty and its possible amelioration, both in urban Brazil and in cities elsewhere in the world.' Journal of Latin American Geography