Autonomous Geographies: Activism and everyday life in the city Jenny Pickerill (Leicester University, UK) Paul Chatterton (Leeds University, UK) Una geografía de la autonomía: El activismo y la vida cotidiana en la ciudad

What is autonomy What is autonomy Why is autonomy important? Why is autonomy important? Making autonomy Making autonomy Living autonomously Living autonomously Limitations Limitations Conclusions Conclusions ¿Que significa la autonomía? ¿Porque es importante? ¿Como hacer la autonomía? Vivir la autonomía Limitaciones Conclusiones Themes Temas

1. What is autonomy? from the Greek: autos nomos (self-legislation) from the Greek: autos nomos (self-legislation) ‘an ethic of responsibility and reciprocity that comes through recognition that others desire and are capable of autonomy too’ (Notes from Nowhere, 2003: 110) ‘an ethic of responsibility and reciprocity that comes through recognition that others desire and are capable of autonomy too’ (Notes from Nowhere, 2003: 110) Freedom, connectivity, mutual aid, solidarity openness, and libertarianism Freedom, connectivity, mutual aid, solidarity openness, and libertarianism Spaces where there is a questioning of laws/social norms, and a desire to create non (alter) capitalist, collective forms of politics, identity and citizenship Spaces where there is a questioning of laws/social norms, and a desire to create non (alter) capitalist, collective forms of politics, identity and citizenship

a) Self-management, decentralised and voluntary organising, and direct action / radical change rather than policy reform b) Rebellion, joy and the carnivalesque c) The revolution of the everyday d) ‘Doing It Yourself’ or creating workable alternatives outside the state / corporate cultures e) Privileging (or at least controlling) the local f) Coming together of theory and practice - or praxis 1. What is autonomy? Cont…

2. Why is autonomy important? 1. Centralized politics can be disempowering as well as repressive. In contrast, a prefigurative/everyday politics can empower and inspire people to participate in community and political life and find creative pathways away from present problems 2. Public life is enhanced by this widening of popular democracy. It reminds us that disorder, questioning and utopian visions, rather than conformity, are vital parts of urban public life 3. Autonomy helps us rethink education/research as tools for radical and critical change

3. Making autonomy Autonomous spaces are the incomplete terrain where daily struggles are made and remade - both symbolically and materially Autonomous spaces are the incomplete terrain where daily struggles are made and remade - both symbolically and materially Central to autonomy is an explosive combination of making protest part of everyday life but also making life into collective, workable alternatives Central to autonomy is an explosive combination of making protest part of everyday life but also making life into collective, workable alternatives Autonomous groups are defined through a commitment to direct democracy, decentralisation and horizontal decision making Autonomous groups are defined through a commitment to direct democracy, decentralisation and horizontal decision making

4. Living autonomously What kind of spaces for participation and identity do these ideas and actions create? What kind of spaces for participation and identity do these ideas and actions create? Autonomous spaces are interstitial (in-between), contradictory and overlapping Autonomous spaces are interstitial (in-between), contradictory and overlapping What does it mean to live in such spaces? What does it mean to live in such spaces?

Spaces where autonomy/commonality can be fostered are limited and ephemeral Spaces where autonomy/commonality can be fostered are limited and ephemeral Those which are semi-permanent require compromises with local / state regulations and funding Those which are semi-permanent require compromises with local / state regulations and funding Finding, promoting and talking about ‘the future in the present’ Finding, promoting and talking about ‘the future in the present’ 4. Living autonomously. Cont…

Examples: Indymedia - a virtual grassroots media network Indymedia - a virtual grassroots media network People’s Global Action – a translocal network of anti-capitalist groups People’s Global Action – a translocal network of anti-capitalist groups Social Centres Network - locally based radical social centres in the UK Social Centres Network - locally based radical social centres in the UK

5. Limitations of autonomy a) On going problems within the activist community - machismo, limited lifespans, disengagement from local communities, illegality, ghettoisation b) building autonomous structures is neither easy nor quick c) Realpolitik for autonomoy is a global capitalist economy where profit, a wage economy and the corporate control of most goods and services prevail

6. Conclusions - Conclusiones Importance of autonomy Importance of autonomy Need to explore how autonomy is created/recreated by activists in everyday lives Need to explore how autonomy is created/recreated by activists in everyday lives Continuing uncertainties, challenges and weaknesses Continuing uncertainties, challenges and weaknesses Creating ‘spaces of hope’ Creating ‘spaces of hope’ La importancia de la autonomía La necesidad averiguar como las activistas crear y recrear la autonomía en sus vidas cotidianas Desafíos, debilidades y las incertidumbres continuas Creando ‘espacios de esperanza’

Dr Paul Chatterton Dr Jenny Pickerill