The Squatters' Movement in Europe: A Durable Struggle for Social Autonomy in Urban Politics |
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Authors: | Miguel A Martínez López |
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Institution: | 1. Departamento de Sociología II, Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain;2. miguelam@cps.ucm.es |
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Abstract: | Squatting empty properties for living or to develop public activities has lasted in European cities for more than three decades. Although local and national contexts differ significantly, there are also some general trends and patterns that deserve careful attention. When squatting occasionally appears in public debates, controversy is generated and many gaps open between academic, social and political perceptions. In this article I use evidence from several European cities to argue that the squatters' movement has produced an original impact in urban politics. The main feature of this impact has been to generate a relatively wide autonomous and mainly non‐institutional mode of citizen participation, protest and self‐management. How has this been possible? Which are the specific contributions made by this urban movement? These are questions that both scholars and activists continuously claim to be relevant, so that this research attempts to offer some general answers based on detailed comparisons and experiences. |
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Keywords: | squatting urban movements urban politics Europe okupació n movimientos urbanos polí tica urbana Europa |
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