Between Autonomy and Hybridity: Urban Struggles Within the 15M Movement in Spain

Abstract

The 15M or Indignados movement appeared on the public stage on 15 May 2011 with a massive demonstration that took place simultaneously in more than 57 Spanish cities after a call launched by a coalition of groups then named DRY (Democracia Real Ya, ‘True Democracy Now’). Their first manifesto opposed the austerity and neoliberal policies implemented by the social-democratic government of the PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol) in the last period of its term in power, after the global financial crisis of 2008. The conservative party, PP (Partido Popular), was implementing similar measures in the municipalities and regional governments under their control, so they were criticised as well. When the PP won the general election in November 2011 and intensified the austerity measures, the outrage increased. Since its inception, the 15M movement gained wide social recognition and was able to mobilise thousands of activists and sympathisers, especially when dozens of squares in major city centres were occupied with tents, sit-ins, public assemblies and various improvised infrastructures.