The Autonomous City: A History of Urban Squatting

The book "The Autonomous City" is a popular history of squatting in Europe and North America, exploring the struggle for housing and alternative forms of housing. It highlights the organization of alternative forms of housing and the official response to squatting, which criminalizes it and leads to brutal evictions. Squatting is seen as a way to reimagine and reclaim the city, offering an alternative to housing insecurity and urban regeneration.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

The Autonomous City is a groundbreaking work of popular history that delves into the practice of squatting in Europe and North America. Authored by Alex Vasudevan, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of the struggle for housing across various cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Detroit, Hamburg, London, Madrid, Milan, New York, and Vancouver. Vasudevan examines the organizational dynamics of alternative forms of housing, such as Copenhagen's Freetown Christiana and the squats of the Lower East Side, as well as the official responses to these movements, including the recent criminalization of squatting, the brutal eviction of squatters, and their widespread vilification.

Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Vasudevan presents squatting as a means to reimagine and reclaim urban spaces. He argues that squatting offers an alternative to housing insecurity, oppressive property speculation, and the negative effects of urban regeneration. By occupying vacant buildings and transforming them into community-driven spaces, squatters challenge the dominant power structures and advocate for a more equitable and inclusive urban landscape.

Vasudevan's book is a powerful call to action for those who are concerned about the state of urban development and the growing inequality in our cities. He encourages readers to recognize the potential of squatting as a tool for social transformation and to support the efforts of squatters and community organizations in their fight for affordable and sustainable housing. The Autonomous City is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of urban politics, housing rights, and the potential for radical social change in our cities.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 139 x 210 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839767937
Edition number: 2 ed