Starting from the premise that the urban configuration is a topical aspect of the social policy, the author analyses the results on a research realized in some disadvantaged areas of the Historic Centre of Naples (rione Sanità, borgo dei Vergini e largo dei Miracoli), to prove the point that the planned and implemented social policies in these areas are relate to the governmentality and they are not neutral relate to the crisis condition of these Neapolitan spaces.
Keywords: Crisis, margin, disadvantaged areas, welfare, Naples, governmentality