Obstacles to Well-being. Reflections from a Northern Mexican Capital

Abstract

The present essay seeks to problematize the concept of urban well-being through reflections rooted in the socio-spatial conditions of the city of Saltillo, Coahuila, located in northern Mexico, which despite official narratives- reveals profound social and spatial tensions that hinder the development of its inhabitants. Drawing on the proposals of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, well-being is understood here as the real possibility of leading a dignified life through the development of capabilities and freedoms. The city is thus conceived not merely as a physical territory, but as a political and symbolic space that can enable or restrict such possibilities. The analysis shows that Saltillo, in its orientation toward industrial and economic growth, operates as an obstacle to a dignified life. Issues such as access to water diverted to industrial use, gender-based violence, and a mobility model centered on private vehicles are mentioned as factors that limit equitable access to opportunities for development. The reflection warns that under capitalism, urban space is conceived as a commodity rather than as a place for shared life. Saltillo thus becomes a fragmented, hostile, and consumption-oriented city, where conditions of habitability are distributed unequally. In conclusion, the essay proposes envisioning an urban ethics of well-being that recognizes the right to the city as an indispensable condition for a dignified life.