Besides the Protests. Anti-gentrification and Anti-touristification Social Movements, Prefigurative Politics and Direct Action in Lisbon and Seville

Abstract

In recent years, the processes of gentrification and touristification has intensified in different cities. The increase in the value of rents and the liberalization of the real estate market make it difficult for residents to stay, especially in the central areas of large cities, which results in forced displacement and evictions. Many social movements have emerged in this context of increasing urban social inequalities, challenging current public policies. The most well-known aspects are social movements' protests and public demonstrations. This practice constitutes one of the best-known practices within a much broader repertoire. Among the other actions carried out by these movements, the so-called prefigurative policies and various direct-action initiatives stand out. This article proposes to analyze the different actions of the anti-gentrification and anti-tourism social movements in Lisbon and Seville. Both cities have similar contexts of gentrification and an exponential increase in the number of tourists in the last decade. First, the debate on gentrification and touristification will be contextualized. Then, the concepts of prefigurative politics and direct action will be discussed; finally, the cases of Lisbon and Seville’s will be analyzed.