Barrionalism is the social movement that emphasizes identity and demands from neighborhoods, especially in cities, to improve the quality of life and protect them from the negative effects of practices such as gentrification, real estate speculation, stigmatization or inequality of resources with other neighborhoods and districts.[1][2][3].
Pedro Limón defines it as:
The term gains strength in Spain after the historic mobilizations of organized neighborhood associations in the 70s and 80s, coexistence itself and the crystallization of a common identity. The singer Kike Suárez "Babas" has claimed to be the inventor of the concept in the 90s, although he himself admits that other people dispute it, but he did use it early in a song by "The Vientre".[4]
Characteristic features of barrionalism
• - Feeling of identity. Not all places have the ingredients that make this political practice possible. Neighborhoodism does not usually exist in neighborhoods where the neighbors do not identify with the neighborhood as their origin.[5][1].
• - Class bond. This identification also usually occurs in the so-called "popular neighborhoods", populated by people with fewer resources. Therefore, neighborhoodism does not usually occur in neighborhoods with higher incomes such as the Salamanca neighborhood or La Moraleja in Madrid.
• - Feeling of exclusion. Identity also originates from the perception of exclusion and inequality with respect to the center, other neighborhoods, the region or state dynamics. This feeling can simultaneously generate the desire to "leave the neighborhood" in search of progress and the vindication of resources and rights violated in the territory.
• - Common and intensive use of the street as a space for interaction and mobilization. In other words, it is characterized by the common life of people, the identification of common problems and the natural passage to collective action.
• - Mobilization. The neighborhood struggle is one of the most notable features of neighborhoodism. However, it has also been pointed out that this is such a visible result that it has often made invisible the identification process that underlies it and makes this mobilization largely possible.
• - Acceptable scale. A possible feature that characterizes this movement may also be the connection with a territory of a scale that is easily assimilated by people, especially in large cities. Thus, Luis de la Cruz points out: "I especially care about associations on a scale small enough to fit in my head."
Affective urbanism
Introduction
Barrionalism is the social movement that emphasizes identity and demands from neighborhoods, especially in cities, to improve the quality of life and protect them from the negative effects of practices such as gentrification, real estate speculation, stigmatization or inequality of resources with other neighborhoods and districts.[1][2][3].
Pedro Limón defines it as:
The term gains strength in Spain after the historic mobilizations of organized neighborhood associations in the 70s and 80s, coexistence itself and the crystallization of a common identity. The singer Kike Suárez "Babas" has claimed to be the inventor of the concept in the 90s, although he himself admits that other people dispute it, but he did use it early in a song by "The Vientre".[4]
Characteristic features of barrionalism
• - Feeling of identity. Not all places have the ingredients that make this political practice possible. Neighborhoodism does not usually exist in neighborhoods where the neighbors do not identify with the neighborhood as their origin.[5][1].
• - Class bond. This identification also usually occurs in the so-called "popular neighborhoods", populated by people with fewer resources. Therefore, neighborhoodism does not usually occur in neighborhoods with higher incomes such as the Salamanca neighborhood or La Moraleja in Madrid.
• - Feeling of exclusion. Identity also originates from the perception of exclusion and inequality with respect to the center, other neighborhoods, the region or state dynamics. This feeling can simultaneously generate the desire to "leave the neighborhood" in search of progress and the vindication of resources and rights violated in the territory.
• - Common and intensive use of the street as a space for interaction and mobilization. In other words, it is characterized by the common life of people, the identification of common problems and the natural passage to collective action.
• - Mobilization. The neighborhood struggle is one of the most notable features of neighborhoodism. However, it has also been pointed out that this is such a visible result that it has often made invisible the identification process that underlies it and makes this mobilization largely possible.
• - Real community. De la Cruz also compares it to nationalism. For him, while it expresses "an imagined community", barrionalismo represents "a real community".[6].
• - The party as a construction element. The popular festival has been pointed out as a basic tool for life in common and practice against individualism. Thus there are examples such as the self-managed popular festivals in neighborhoods such as Malasaña "Universidad (Madrid)") or Barrio del Pilar "El Pilar (Madrid)") in Madrid, often also with a marked protest character. A very striking example is the process of invention of traditions such as the Naval Battle of Vallecas, created in July 1982, in which the independence of the Republic of Vallecas and its neutrality towards NATO is declared.
• - Horizontal narratives. The generation of narratives from the neighborhoods themselves through talks, debates, hyperlocal media such as community radio or alternative publications also tend to be a common element in neighborhoodism.
• - Collective memory. It has been pointed out that the collective memory of places has great potential when it comes to generating neighborhood discourses. An example is the vindication of industrial heritage in Poblenou "Pueblo Nuevo (Barcelona)") (Barcelona) or the movement for the protection of popular neo-Mudejar architecture in Tetuán "Tetuán (Madrid)") (Madrid).
• - Denomination or reputation. Areas with a strong presence of neighborhoodism are also characterized by having a well-known name. Even with enough fame to have a song ("Almagro "Almagro (Buenos Aires)")", by Carlos Gardel, or "Little Italy "Little Italy (Manhattan)")", by Stephen Bishop, among others) or a film like Notting Hill "Notting Hill (film)"), Chinatown "Chinatown (film)") or El Raval.[2] There are particularities like Vallecas in which even its own name has a barrional version: Vallekas.[7].
• - Limits not linked to administrative matters. This is the use of the term neighborhood without strictly linking it to an administrative boundary. For example, Tetuán is an example of neighborhoodism, but it is actually a district made up of 6 neighborhoods. The same happens with Carabanchel, Vallecas or Hortaleza, which are really districts.
• - Urban planning. It is also noted that the areas where there is no neighborhoodism are more impersonal places - especially in the case of the PAU -, often empty of passers-by, empty of urban art and even with an appearance of greater homogeneity at an urban and architectural level. Many have gated communities.[8].
• - Response to official territoriality. These movements practice and imagine common action strategies in the face of decisions that they denounce and are carried out by institutions.[1].
• - Territorial resignation. In addition to the scant attention to the delimitation or administrative denomination of the territory, the neighborhood link causes resignifications of the territory in a traditional or "village" key linked to the historical memory of the neighborhood or territorial struggle or to pre-urban life. This can be clearly observed in neighborhoods that were originally towns later annexed to large cities and that, in this process of identity construction, recover and reappropriate that genealogy and its symbology.[1].
• - Does not grant rights. Just as nationality grants rights, neighborhoodism fosters a collective identity that does not provide rights or privileges for belonging to it. It is generated by an emotional connection with the social relations that exist in a certain territory. Neighborhoodism, rather than being a topological concept, therefore focuses more on relationships, daily customs and small myths.[7].
It is also noted that the concept can become exclusive if it is questioned whether a migrant person can be a barrionalist.[3].
Examples of neighborhoodism
• - Cerro Belmonte protests. Neighborhood actions against the expropriation of their houses. They managed to achieve great visibility in both national and international media.
• - Hortaleza participatory parade. With 50 years of history, it is a protest parade organized by neighbors that has been privatized and recovered by the neighbors themselves.
• - Gamonal conflict of 2014. These were neighborhood protests against the construction of a boulevard that would entail a high cost and against an action that they considered unnecessary.
• - Battle for the conservation of Cabanyal. Neighborhood movement that managed to stop in 2009 the extension of an avenue planned through the seaside neighborhood that involved the destruction of 1,600 houses.
Neighborhoodism in culture
Movies in which neighborhoodism is the protagonist:.
• - The day of the beast.
• - 47.
• - Moon of Avellaneda.
Song:.
• - "Barrionalistas" from Los Chikos del Maíz.
• - Acceptable scale. A possible feature that characterizes this movement may also be the connection with a territory of a scale that is easily assimilated by people, especially in large cities. Thus, Luis de la Cruz points out: "I especially care about associations on a scale small enough to fit in my head."
• - Real community. De la Cruz also compares it to nationalism. For him, while it expresses "an imagined community", barrionalismo represents "a real community".[6].
• - The party as a construction element. The popular festival has been pointed out as a basic tool for life in common and practice against individualism. Thus there are examples such as the self-managed popular festivals in neighborhoods such as Malasaña "Universidad (Madrid)") or Barrio del Pilar "El Pilar (Madrid)") in Madrid, often also with a marked protest character. A very striking example is the process of invention of traditions such as the Naval Battle of Vallecas, created in July 1982, in which the independence of the Republic of Vallecas and its neutrality towards NATO is declared.
• - Horizontal narratives. The generation of narratives from the neighborhoods themselves through talks, debates, hyperlocal media such as community radio or alternative publications also tend to be a common element in neighborhoodism.
• - Collective memory. It has been pointed out that the collective memory of places has great potential when it comes to generating neighborhood discourses. An example is the vindication of industrial heritage in Poblenou "Pueblo Nuevo (Barcelona)") (Barcelona) or the movement for the protection of popular neo-Mudejar architecture in Tetuán "Tetuán (Madrid)") (Madrid).
• - Denomination or reputation. Areas with a strong presence of neighborhoodism are also characterized by having a well-known name. Even with enough fame to have a song ("Almagro "Almagro (Buenos Aires)")", by Carlos Gardel, or "Little Italy "Little Italy (Manhattan)")", by Stephen Bishop, among others) or a film like Notting Hill "Notting Hill (film)"), Chinatown "Chinatown (film)") or El Raval.[2] There are particularities like Vallecas in which even its own name has a barrional version: Vallekas.[7].
• - Limits not linked to administrative matters. This is the use of the term neighborhood without strictly linking it to an administrative boundary. For example, Tetuán is an example of neighborhoodism, but it is actually a district made up of 6 neighborhoods. The same happens with Carabanchel, Vallecas or Hortaleza, which are really districts.
• - Urban planning. It is also noted that the areas where there is no neighborhoodism are more impersonal places - especially in the case of the PAU -, often empty of passers-by, empty of urban art and even with an appearance of greater homogeneity at an urban and architectural level. Many have gated communities.[8].
• - Response to official territoriality. These movements practice and imagine common action strategies in the face of decisions that they denounce and are carried out by institutions.[1].
• - Territorial resignation. In addition to the scant attention to the delimitation or administrative denomination of the territory, the neighborhood link causes resignifications of the territory in a traditional or "village" key linked to the historical memory of the neighborhood or territorial struggle or to pre-urban life. This can be clearly observed in neighborhoods that were originally towns later annexed to large cities and that, in this process of identity construction, recover and reappropriate that genealogy and its symbology.[1].
• - Does not grant rights. Just as nationality grants rights, neighborhoodism fosters a collective identity that does not provide rights or privileges for belonging to it. It is generated by an emotional connection with the social relations that exist in a certain territory. Neighborhoodism, rather than being a topological concept, therefore focuses more on relationships, daily customs and small myths.[7].
It is also noted that the concept can become exclusive if it is questioned whether a migrant person can be a barrionalist.[3].
Examples of neighborhoodism
• - Cerro Belmonte protests. Neighborhood actions against the expropriation of their houses. They managed to achieve great visibility in both national and international media.
• - Hortaleza participatory parade. With 50 years of history, it is a protest parade organized by neighbors that has been privatized and recovered by the neighbors themselves.
• - Gamonal conflict of 2014. These were neighborhood protests against the construction of a boulevard that would entail a high cost and against an action that they considered unnecessary.
• - Battle for the conservation of Cabanyal. Neighborhood movement that managed to stop in 2009 the extension of an avenue planned through the seaside neighborhood that involved the destruction of 1,600 houses.
Neighborhoodism in culture
Movies in which neighborhoodism is the protagonist:.