Bodden, S. (2022) A work-in-progress politics of space: activist projects and the negotiation of throwntogetherness within the hostile environment of Hungarian politics. City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action, 26(2-3), pp. 397-410. (doi: 10.1080/13604813.2022.2055930)
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Abstract
For Doreen Massey, space is a challenge of multiplicity, encounter and relation: a ‘throwntogetherness’ that demands ongoing negotiation. Space, Massey argues, is open—it is capable of being made otherwise. Drawing on Massey’s ideas, this essay reflects on the everyday political work of community projects to open up space for new possibilities of living with difference within hostile political environments. Through a combination of ethnographic storytelling, photography and diagrammatic sketches, I follow ‘stories-so-far’ from the Auróra community centre in Budapest, Hungary and its members’ project to build a community garden. Rather than focus on prevailing discourses which frame Hungarian politics as a battle between an illiberal government and a liberal opposition, I shift attention to everyday experiences of this hostile political environment by examining projects as mundane and local techniques through which community groups describe, assemble, and work on their own better possible futures. In so doing, I also argue for a praxeological, rather than ontological reading of Massey’s work: rather than presuming a priori that all space is open, we should follow Massey in analysing the situated and ongoing ‘terms of engagement’ through which people open up—and close down—better possible spaces and better ways of living with difference.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | This research was funded through a Principal’s Career Development Scholarship for PhD researchers at the University of Edinburgh. |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Bodden, Dr Shawn |
Authors: | Bodden, S. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences |
Journal Name: | City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action |
Publisher: | Taylor and Francis |
ISSN: | 1360-4813 |
ISSN (Online): | 1470-3629 |
Published Online: | 31 March 2022 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2022 The Author |
First Published: | First published in City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action 26(2-3): 397-410 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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