Mobility and territorial expansion in the city of São Luís: a new social paradigm in the occupation of urban space

Abstract This paper aims to reflect on transformations in the social and urban field that have influenced a change of paradigm in the occupation of the city of São Luís, state of Maranhão. Historic factors that took place in the urban space are related to theories of the social sciences, considering that mobility interferes in the growth of the city and in the relations among individuals. A link is established between urban road infrastructure originating from governmental actions and transformations in the behavior of contemporary society by using motility, the social construction utilized by Weert, Kauffmann and Kesselring (2008). Finally, the study contributes to the understanding of urban and social transformations occurred from the second half of the 20th century onwards, in the city of São Luís.