Abstract
AbstractAsserting the need to acknowledge the role of the current crisis and austerity politics in fostering the re‐emergence of squatting initiatives in Rome, this article brings together the literature on squatting as an urban social movement, notably Martínez López's holistic approach, with a political economy perspective analysing the current stage of ‘late neoliberalism’. In so doing, I use the conceptualization of ‘expulsions’ developed by Sassen to show how emerging squatting initiatives in Rome represent the ‘spaces of the expelled’. Focusing on the case of Communia in San Lorenzo neighbourhood, the article shows how Martínez López's approach is able to account for the rapid success and support enjoyed by Communia, going as it does beyond the ‘single‐issue’ perspective that has dominated much of the squatting literature. Indeed, the main claims addressed by Communia activists concern a plurality of issues grouped around the concept of urban commons, as both a practice and a goal. Methodologically, the article is the result of 18 months of fieldwork based on an activist/participatory action research (PAR) approach, comprising participant observation/observant participation, in‐depth interviews and questionnaires.
Highlights
With the worsening of the effects of the current debt and financial crisis and the adoption of austerity measures following the same neoliberal logics that led the global economy to the crisis (e.g. Aalbers, 2013, Peck et al, 2013), strong attention has been paid to the analysis of protest movements across the Global North and beyond
Asserting the need to take into account the role played by the current crisis and austerity politics in fostering the re-emergence of squatting initiatives in Rome, the paper bridges the literature on squatting as an urban social movement, notably Martinez’ holistic approach (2013), with a more political economy-oriented perspective analysing the current stage of ′late neoliberalism′
As a matter of fact, since 2010-2011 the main Italian cities have witnessed a massive re-emergence of squatting as a widespread housing, social and political practice, Rome hosting several of them (Di Feliciantonio, 2016b)
Summary
With the worsening of the effects of the current debt and financial crisis and the adoption of austerity measures following the same neoliberal logics that led the global economy to the crisis (e.g. Aalbers, 2013, Peck et al, 2013), strong attention has been paid to the analysis of protest movements across the Global North and beyond. Several other autonomous squatting initiatives not directly linked to the ′Tsunami′ have been launched all around the city, concerning multiple claims, like defending historical buildings from demolition and real estate speculation (e.g. Cinema America Occupato, Communia2), the occupation of a park under threat of constructions (Parco Aguzzano) or a self-managed shelter for helping women victims of violence through the occupation of a being part of the ′Tsunami′, Communia has had a marginal role in it since it is not part of any of the three main networks struggling for the right to housing in Rome For this reason, Communia presents some peculiar characteristics as respect to other initiatives of the ′Tsunami′ (e.g. decisions are more horizontal, it is more open and easier to access for new people). The methodology developed to analyse the fragmented squatting scene in Rome was made of: i) observant participation/participant observation within two specific squatting initiatives (Communia and Scuola Hertz) and the overall squatting movement of the city, taking parts to assemblies, demonstrations, meetings, workshops, and so forth; ii) 76 semi-structured interviews (individual or in group) with squatters of both Communia and Scuola Hertz and participants to other squatting initiatives; and iii) a questionnaire submitted to the Communia squatters aimed at evaluating the social and political profile of the people involved
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