IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section A

Abstract

The importance of social infrastructure for the flourishing of deep-rooted democracy cannot be overstated (Klinenberg, 2020). Recent crises show that beyond the structures provided by welfare states, resilient communities could benefit from locally grown grassroots initiatives (Nel.lo, Blanco and Goma, 2022). The paper takes an intimate look at two examples of grassroots social infrastructure asking what makes them sustainable. In response, it identifies within them an ‘ecological spontaneity’, pervasive elements that permeate the smallest moments of their day-to-day, pushing against the ubiquitous control of mainstream management (Johnson and Gill, 1993). The first is a housing organization that transformed the social and physical landscape of one of the most stigmatized neighbourhoods in the UK. Inspired by anarchism (Ward, 1988) and punk D.I.Y ethics, they grew into what is now a 40 year-old multi-faceted organizational ecology with multiple side projects and initiatives populating its edges. The second tells the story of a small group of neighbours in a Catalan city, sitting outside once a week, engaging in creative and social activities. Without formal organizational structure or definition, they continued this practice for close to 20 years, creating an organic form of grassroots power, confronting challenges and conflict in ways rooted in pleasure and play. Both examples will help bring to the forefront the need to take a granular look at the nuts-and-bolts of creating grassroots social infrastructure in neighbourhoods. The fact of both projects having been inspired by anarchist thought, suggest the importance of theorizing spontaneity and its importance for such practices.