- Gentrification, inner city dynamics, housing financialisationedit
This article explores the way local states can challenge the process of housing financialization, by focusing on policy innovation for housing vulnerability. Building upon theoretical discourses that emphasize the influence of financial... more
This article explores the way local states can challenge the process of housing financialization, by focusing on policy innovation for housing vulnerability. Building upon theoretical discourses that emphasize the influence of financial investors in shaping policy frameworks, we suggest that institutional settings that develop independently of financial logics and prioritize social policies can both incite shifts in financial investors' strategies and change the dynamics in the financialization of housing. This is the case even within rental systems where local states demonstrate limited capacity to intervene in housing markets. Using desk-based research and interviews with expert informants, this study investigates the way new municipalism policies have addressed housing vulnerability in Barcelona. It considers investors' responses to an institutional framework that prioritized social criteria, and interrogates the relation between housing policy and financial innovation. Key findings suggest that housing financialization is a dynamic process, contingent on the way different actors interrelate and mutually redefine power relations in housing affairs.
Γιατί αυξάνονται τα ενοίκια και οι τιμές των σπιτιών; Είναι μόνο λόγω της τουριστικοποίησης και του «εξευγενισμού» ορισμένων περιοχών ή επειδή η αγορά κατοικίας έχει ιδιαίτερο επενδυτικό ενδιαφέρον; Ποιος ο ρόλος του κράτους και των... more
Γιατί αυξάνονται τα ενοίκια και οι τιμές των σπιτιών; Είναι μόνο λόγω της τουριστικοποίησης και του «εξευγενισμού» ορισμένων περιοχών ή επειδή η αγορά κατοικίας έχει ιδιαίτερο επενδυτικό ενδιαφέρον; Ποιος ο ρόλος του κράτους και των επιμέρους πολιτικών; Αυτό το -εκτεταμένο- κείμενο θα δώσει κάποιες απαντήσεις ως προς τα δυσπρόσιτα ενοίκια και τις πιέσεις που δέχονται τα νοικοκυρια
στην κάλυψη των στεγαστικών τους αναγκών εξετάζοντας τη θεωρία περί χρηματιστικοποίησης της κατοικίας. Αρχικά γίνεται αναφορά στη διεθνή εμπειρία και στη συνέχεια εξετάζεται η ελληνική πραγματικότητα, όπως αυτή έχει οριστεί από την κρίση χρέους και τις πολιτικές λιτότητας που συνδέονται με την υφαρπαγή γης και κατοικίας
στην κάλυψη των στεγαστικών τους αναγκών εξετάζοντας τη θεωρία περί χρηματιστικοποίησης της κατοικίας. Αρχικά γίνεται αναφορά στη διεθνή εμπειρία και στη συνέχεια εξετάζεται η ελληνική πραγματικότητα, όπως αυτή έχει οριστεί από την κρίση χρέους και τις πολιτικές λιτότητας που συνδέονται με την υφαρπαγή γης και κατοικίας
CONTESTED_CITIES Athens 2017 is a pioneering cultural, artistic and scientific project that bridges critical urban studies and ancient Greek drama. Focusing on the notion of displacement, it inspires transdisciplinary interpretations and... more
CONTESTED_CITIES Athens 2017 is a pioneering cultural, artistic and scientific project that bridges critical urban studies and ancient Greek drama. Focusing on the notion of displacement, it inspires transdisciplinary interpretations and interactive discussions between urban theorists, art collectives and ancient Greek theatre experts. CONTESTED_CITIES Athens 2017 is a collaborative action, organised by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation (Athens) and scientists from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the University of Leeds.
The project will be practically developed during a two-weeks scientific and artist residence, which will be taking place in Athens between September 15th and 30th, 2017. During that period, five different types of activities will take place:
(i) Three scientific seminars that discuss ideas of place, displacement and exile; power in place; space invaders and the commons, as well as alternatives beyond neoliberal urbanism (September 20th, 22nd and 25th).
(ii) Three artistic workshops that engage with displacement, gentrification and the construction of alternatives beyond neoliberal urbanism (September 21st, 23rd and 26th).
(iii) A public scientific forum that questions hegemonic discourses on neoliberal urbanism and discusses radical ideas about the autonomous city, practices of commoning and other alternatives (September 23rd and 24th).
(iv)An artistic exhibition about urban displacement, contemporary social exclusion and radical alternatives (September 19th to 30th).
(v) A theatre performance based on real-life displacement stories presented with appropriate extracts from ancient Greek tragedies and visual installations, taking place at the Theatre of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation (September 28th, 29th and 30th)
During July 2017, preparations for this project include two different calls for participation:
(i) A call for displacement stories
(ii) A call for participating in the seminars and workshops
The project is directed by Georgia Alexandri (Madrid) and Michael Janoschka (Leeds). It takes place in collaboration with Left Hand Rotation, María Escobar, George Rodosthenous, Nicholas Salazar, Paul Routledge and Rouven Rech.
The project will be practically developed during a two-weeks scientific and artist residence, which will be taking place in Athens between September 15th and 30th, 2017. During that period, five different types of activities will take place:
(i) Three scientific seminars that discuss ideas of place, displacement and exile; power in place; space invaders and the commons, as well as alternatives beyond neoliberal urbanism (September 20th, 22nd and 25th).
(ii) Three artistic workshops that engage with displacement, gentrification and the construction of alternatives beyond neoliberal urbanism (September 21st, 23rd and 26th).
(iii) A public scientific forum that questions hegemonic discourses on neoliberal urbanism and discusses radical ideas about the autonomous city, practices of commoning and other alternatives (September 23rd and 24th).
(iv)An artistic exhibition about urban displacement, contemporary social exclusion and radical alternatives (September 19th to 30th).
(v) A theatre performance based on real-life displacement stories presented with appropriate extracts from ancient Greek tragedies and visual installations, taking place at the Theatre of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation (September 28th, 29th and 30th)
During July 2017, preparations for this project include two different calls for participation:
(i) A call for displacement stories
(ii) A call for participating in the seminars and workshops
The project is directed by Georgia Alexandri (Madrid) and Michael Janoschka (Leeds). It takes place in collaboration with Left Hand Rotation, María Escobar, George Rodosthenous, Nicholas Salazar, Paul Routledge and Rouven Rech.
This is the call for seminar and workshop participation for the Contested Cities 2017 Athens project, in collaboration with the Cacoyannis foundation.
Gentrification is an inner city process broadly discussed for almost half a century. Discourse on gentrification and the study of the process derive from the experience of western world cities. Notwithstanding, gentrification research on... more
Gentrification is an inner city process broadly discussed for almost half a century. Discourse on gentrification and the study of the process derive from the experience of western world cities. Notwithstanding, gentrification research on cities of the lower hierarchy has identified divergent trajectories of the process, giving insight to the multiple perspectives of inner city dynamics. The process should be analysed as a neoliberal restructuring of the inner city orchestrated by the middle class, where displacement is experienced by the lower societal strata, the voices of the neighbourhoods fade and a middle class playground is being established instead. As this urban trend plays out differently according to the specific socioeconomic background of each city, this paper will analyse the emerging dynamics in the city centre of Athens, focusing on a former working class neighbourhood called Metaxourgio. The elaborated research question is whether through the underlying forces that are changing the urban and social tissue in this inner city area, are we about to experience another incidence of gentrification: that of sporadic and private-led gentrification, where this trend plays out in the street level, the building or even the floor level reflecting the middle class preferences of resettling in the city centre. The first part of the paper will deal with the broader gentrification debate. The second will give a feedback of the current city centre dynamics. The third part will analyse the way gentrification performs in Athens and the social consequences of the process in the neighbourhood. The conclusion will raise some issues about the perspective of gentrification in a Mediterranean compact city like Athens
Discourse on the phenomenon of gentrification has mainly focused on western cities of the US, Canada and the UK. However gentrification is experienced worldwide. Nonetheless as the socioeconomic and political context is different in each... more
Discourse on the phenomenon of gentrification has mainly focused on western cities of the US, Canada and the UK. However gentrification is experienced worldwide. Nonetheless as the socioeconomic and political context is different in each city, the process develops ...
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This chapter analyses which categories are mobilised by residents to describe the social groups in their area and which normative assessments are attached to those descriptions. This intersectionality approach allows one to see social... more
This chapter analyses which categories are mobilised by residents to describe the social groups in their area and which normative assessments are attached to those descriptions. This intersectionality approach allows one to see social stratification at work in how inhabitants of diverse neighbourhoods in Leipzig, Paris, and Athens perceive, describe, and judge their social environment. The three cities that are analysed represent different histories of diversification, and all three of them have experienced societal disruptions and change. The residents' own positionality shapes how they categorise other residents and judge their social environment. Moreover, the construction of social groups in diverse neighbourhoods in these cities draws on a variety of rather classic social categories and is influenced by national discourses. Stigmatisation often occurs at the intersections of these categories. Also, neighbourhood change is an important factor in the construction of social gr...
Research Interests: Fear and Gentrification
Discourse on the phenomenon of gentrification has mainly focused on western cities of the US, Canada and the UK. However gentrification is experienced worldwide. Nonetheless as the socioeconomic and political context is different in each... more
Discourse on the phenomenon of gentrification has mainly focused on western cities of the US, Canada and the UK. However gentrification is experienced worldwide. Nonetheless as the socioeconomic and political context is different in each city, the process develops differently in each case with regard to the distinct background. However, research about gentrification in the Mediterranean region is limited. From this viewpoint this dissertation deals with the gentrification process of the Athenian inner district of Gas. Although gentrification is privately led, the role of the State is crucial for the development and implication of this urban trend. Governments, central and local, facilitate this process and encourage private investments as the in the short term they gain benefits and economic profits. However, in Gas the attraction of outside capital in special forms such as entertainment amenities overruns the local potential. This change in land-use results in the displacement of the local population, thus encouraging the conquest of the city’s core by the middle and affluent income classes. The first chapter introduces the scope of this dissertation. The second one draws attention to the conducted research methods. The third part highlights the gentrification literature review. The forth part presents the process of gentrification in the Gas neighbourhood and the final part draws some general conclusions of the gentrification process in the Southern European context of Athens.
This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today's hyper-diversified cities. The project's central... more
This book is one of the outcomes of the DIVERCITIES project. It focuses on the question of how to create social cohesion, social mobility and economic performance in today's hyper-diversified cities. The project's central hypothesis is that urban diversity is an asset; it can inspire creativity, innovation and make cities more liveable and harmonious. To ensure a more intelligent use of diversity's potential, a re-thinking of public policies and governance models is needed.
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Research Interests: Geography and Governance
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Something non-conventional is being “cooked” in the Aegean islands since 1983; radical geographers, planners and critical thinkers meet almost every 3 years and exchange ideas over their research, their work and their common interests.... more
Something non-conventional is being “cooked” in the Aegean islands since 1983; radical geographers, planners and critical thinkers meet almost every 3 years and exchange ideas over their research, their work and their common interests. The ‘seminars of the Aegean’, as they are called, are unique in their kind as they provide a non-hierarchical, small scale, informal platform where geographical perceptions, planning proposals, theories and imaginations are discussed from a radical point of views. The whole seminar runs through round table plenaries, with no parallel sessions. The main idea to solely provide researchers with a round table is so as to deepen the discussion amongst diverge geographical issues, thus enhance the participant’s intellectual and personal interaction. Nonetheless, the seminars run by personal invitations, although travelling and the accommodation expenses are not covered by the organizers. Besides that, there are no fees attached! The only requirement is the ...
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In gentrifying places the middle classes come into conflict with the pre-existing spatial and social structures, as they challenge the existing order in order to impose their sense of betterment. In times of crisis, spatial contests are... more
In gentrifying places the middle classes come into conflict with the pre-existing spatial and social structures, as they challenge the existing order in order to impose their sense of betterment. In times of crisis, spatial contests are confronted with fears which are related to broader feelings of anxiety that turn against the unwanted ‘other’. This paper drives attention to the feelings of fear that arise in the gentrifiers’ perceptions of quotidian life in times of high liquidity in an Athenian inner city neighbourhood. The way gentrification dynamics enmesh with urban fears may provide us with more insights into the conquest of space by the middle classes, thus broadening the scope
of gentrification in the context of the current crisis.
of gentrification in the context of the current crisis.
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In times of austerity, gentrification is promoted as a prime investment opportunity capable of reviving stagnating local economies. In Athens, pro-gentrification policies (using English slogans like 'Re-launch Athens' and 'Re-activate... more
In times of austerity, gentrification is promoted as a prime investment opportunity capable of reviving stagnating local economies. In Athens, pro-gentrification policies (using English slogans like 'Re-launch Athens' and 'Re-activate Athens') have become increasingly defined in their targeting of specific areas. Moreover, planning in Greece is characterized by spontaneity, fragmentation and tolerance of speculation, specifically favouring the gentrification process. In many cases, the state's 'absence' after promulgation of regeneration projects acts as a clear strategy for inner-city gentrification. After discussing the emergent relations between state policies on urban intervention and gentrification in the post-crash era, this article will focus on the peculiarities of the Greek planning system and how these have led to the gentrification of an inner-city area called Metaxourgio.
Transnational gentrifications have been occurring at the crossroads of capital investment fuelled to satisfy the remarkable increase of so-called leisure-oriented mobilities. Such mobilities, however , cause disruptive social, spatial and... more
Transnational gentrifications have been occurring at the crossroads of capital investment fuelled to satisfy the remarkable increase of so-called leisure-oriented mobilities. Such mobilities, however , cause disruptive social, spatial and economic transformations of urban and rural landscapes across the globe. Consequently, transnational gentrifications may be considered a crucial testimonial of economic shifts, during the 2008-2020 period of accumulation. In this article, we argue that the underlying conceptual assumptions of transnational gentrifications require crucial adjustments. We should especially consider the intellectual roots that simply celebrate leisure-oriented mobilities while setting aside the exclusionary social practices of the consumption of space, culture , heritage and place. We do this by interpreting the phenomenon by means of a political economy that understands (i) the lens of the multi-scalar organisation of state power as a centre-piece for orchestrating the conditions for transnational gentrifications; (ii) transnational middle-class leisure-oriented mobilities linked dichotomously with labour precariousness and flexibility; and (iii) the rent gap as an analytical tool to understand dispossession, and corresponding displacement of people, practices and discourses. This approach sheds light on the nuances of gentrifi-cation as an attribute of systemic violence exercised in financialised capitalism. It also supports us to sketch out a theoretically informed outlook for the ongoing reorientation of intertwined gen-trifications by transnational capital investments with intermittent flows of people in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nella citta di Atene, la crisi economica ha provocato un rallentamento dei processi di gentrification. Nella prima parte di questo articolo si introdurranno le spazialita produttrici di gentrification nella capitale greca. Nella seconda... more
Nella citta di Atene, la crisi economica ha provocato un rallentamento dei processi di gentrification. Nella prima parte di questo articolo si introdurranno le spazialita produttrici di gentrification nella capitale greca. Nella seconda viene analizzato il modo in cui le paure nel centro della citta costituiscono il Cavallo di Troia di tali processi nella zona di Metaxourgio qui presa in esame.
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In gentrifying places the middle classes come into conflict with the pre-existing spatial and social structures, as they challenge the existing order in order to impose their sense of betterment. In times of crisis, spatial contests are... more
In gentrifying places the middle classes come into conflict with the pre-existing spatial and social structures, as they challenge the existing order in order to impose their sense of betterment. In times of crisis, spatial contests are confronted with fears which are related to broader feelings of anxiety that turn against the unwanted ‘other’. This paper drives attention to the feelings of fear that arise in the gentrifiers’ perceptions of quotidian life in times of high liquidity in an Athenian inner city neighbourhood. The way gentrification dynamics enmesh with urban fears may provide us with more insights into the conquest of space by the middle classes, thus broadening the scope of gentrification in the context of the current crisis.
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This article traces the transfer of competitiveness and cohesion policies from the European Union (EU) institutions to the national and subnational authorities in Greece, both before and after the sovereign debt crisis. We argue that... more
This article traces the transfer of competitiveness and cohesion policies from the European Union (EU) institutions to the national and subnational authorities in Greece, both before and after the sovereign debt crisis. We argue that prior to the crisis, the flexibilities of the EU governance system allowed the Greek central government to use the competitiveness and cohesion agenda, as well as the associated funds, to build a domestic socio-political consensus focused on the idea of ‘convergence’ with Europe. The crisis-induced bailout programme deepened neoliberal policies and reorganised vertical and horizontal power relations: policy-making powers have been upscaled towards the supranational level, while the national authorities have been socially disembedded.
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narrative power of ruins, each of these chapters begins with the history of the places in question, and finishes with constructive recommendations on how to repurpose them. Since the sites studied in this book have long been characterised... more
narrative power of ruins, each of these chapters begins with the history of the places in question, and finishes with constructive recommendations on how to repurpose them. Since the sites studied in this book have long been characterised by ruination, the most interesting feature in Dobraszczyk’s thought is his emphasis on incorporating architectural decay – as a representative, cultural value – into any envisaged project. Only through this will the past potentially resonate into the future, affording our cities to heal their wounds while negotiating identities – a process that will surely require accepting (and subsequently overcoming) failures, placing ourselves as a better society when mirrored in the humility of modern ruins. Hence, this book makes a great contribution to urban studies since it should be read as an actual push towards the inevitable tendency within ruin scholarship: to focus on existing practices where abandoned buildings are being re-appropriated while respecting their condition as ruins. This is a challenge that, just recently, DeSilvey (2017) and Sandler (2016) have started to explore, and it will allow us to materialise the poetics of ruins acquired in previous years. The book has certain limitations, but it is worth mentioning that Dobraszczyk has been wise enough to note them himself, especially when he admits that this is a Western-orientated contribution, and that ruin theory is still lacking further attention from the Global South. Similarly, he notes his role as an outsider, claiming for locals’ empowerment to build up their own stake. I would add that a wider interdisciplinary scope is missing, where voices from heritage studies and contemporary archaeology may well have supplemented the author’s discourse. Since the book is committed to ruin imagery, it would have benefited from higher-quality coloured pictures. Also, the chosen referencing style where endnotes and bibliography are indistinctively mixed makes the reading at times a little less fluid than it could be. Be that as it may, this book is compellingly rounded, and it will be of great interest to those who love ruins because we think they are one of the few spaces of hope in the on-going neoliberalisation of our cities. Yet if the city is dead, then long live the city!
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The rapid internationalisation of the Spanish property market has triggered debates about the main characteristics of emerging post-crisis urban dynamics. Financial and urban policy reforms have shaped a model depicted by incessant rent... more
The rapid internationalisation of the Spanish property market has triggered debates about the main characteristics of emerging post-crisis urban dynamics. Financial and urban policy reforms have shaped a model depicted by incessant rent increases and displacements. Echoing these concerns, this article addresses two interconnected objectives about the way policy restructuring encouraged transnational investments into Spanish real estate and the concomitant socio-spatial effects this wider asset reshuffling has produced. Both queries are discussed by pinpointing the multi-scalar investment strategies of the private equity firm, Blackstone, which emerged as the predominant institutional investor during the recovery phase of the Spanish property market. The article initially sketches out the trajectory of the political economy of housing in Spain, and then it focuses on the strategies pursued by Blackstone for the acquisition of real estate and housing stock. The following sections conn...
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Transnational gentrifications have been occurring at the crossroads of capital investment fuelled to satisfy the remarkable increase of so-called leisure-oriented mobilities. Such mobilities, however, cause disruptive social, spatial and... more
Transnational gentrifications have been occurring at the crossroads of capital investment fuelled to satisfy the remarkable increase of so-called leisure-oriented mobilities. Such mobilities, however, cause disruptive social, spatial and economic transformations of urban and rural landscapes across the globe. Consequently, transnational gentrifications may be considered a crucial testimonial of economic shifts, during the 2008–2020 period of accumulation. In this article, we argue that the underlying conceptual assumptions of transnational gentrifications require crucial adjustments. We should especially consider the intellectual roots that simply celebrate leisure-oriented mobilities while setting aside the exclusionary social practices of the consumption of space, culture, heritage and place. We do this by interpreting the phenomenon by means of a political economy that understands (i) the lens of the multi-scalar organisation of state power as a centrepiece for orchestrating the ...
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Housing financialization identifies logics, policies and actors that treat homes as assets. However, as the institutional framework and social consensus on housing provision varies widely, the process is path-depended on local... more
Housing financialization identifies logics, policies and actors that treat homes as assets. However, as the institutional framework and social consensus on housing provision varies widely, the process is path-depended on local contingencies that reflect specific socioeconomic and political contexts. Driving attention to relevant dynamics recently developed in the city of Athens, this research scrutinises the local specificities and financial accounting idiosyncrasies that make the case of housing financialization. The paper explores how homeownership, as constructed in this society without the mediation of credit financing, is challenged by debt obligations. It further considers the institutional framework that opposed, until recently, housing repossessions to explore the link between indebtedness, book values of Non-Performing Loan provisions and the timing of securitisation. It concludes by tendering the case of housing "sale and lease-back" financialization where homeowners transform into tenants of own homes to safeguard the book values of credit institutions at the verge of default. Housing financialization a la Griega, then constitutes a paradigm of a continuous temporal re-engineering that normalises and leads to a pacified form of housing appropriation, subordinating housing needs and power relations to financial imperatives.