The Commonist Horizon: Urban Futures Beyond Capitalist Gentrification

To resist gentrification, an autonomous community center in Vilnius, Lithuania, has embraced commoning practices as a method for criticizing the wave of enclosures that began after the fall of state-socialism. The Commonist Horizon features five interventions by movement thinkers from three formerly state-socialist countries, offering insights on the conceptual and political potentials and limitations of urban commons.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2023
Publisher: Common Notions

The process of transitioning from defensive tactics that react to the most recent phases of capitalist urbanization to transformative, strategic revolts that target the underlying causes and implement alternative models of urban life is a complex and challenging one. One potential solution to this challenge is the commons, an alternative model of organizing our lived environment that involves communal control over the various conditions that shape our daily lives.

In the post-socialist city of Vilnius, Lithuania, a community center located in a district behind the train station has been actively exploring the use of commoning as a means of resisting gentrification. This approach to resistance is rooted in the concept of commoning, which emerged from the former state-socialist Eastern Block and is embraced as a method for critiquing the wave of enclosures that began after the fall of state-socialism. At the same time, commoning practices are seen as a way to avoid the heavily stigmatized politics of state-socialism.

The Commonist Horizon, a book that features five interventions by movement thinkers. thinkers, takes up the lived experience of building urban commons, offering insights on the conceptual and political potentials and limitations of this terminology and associated practices. The book begins in the post-Soviet city of Vilnius and extends its dialogical process to two other formerly state-socialist countries, and then beyond. The authors, who speak from their experiences in social movement formations, offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of building urban commons, highlighting the need for a more holistic and inclusive approach to urban development that recognizes the diverse needs and aspirations of urban communities.

In conclusion, the commons represents a promising alternative to the dominant model of capitalist urbanization. By promoting communal control over the conditions that shape our lives, the commons offers a way to resist gentrification, promote social justice, and create more sustainable and inclusive cities. However, the implementation of the commons requires a shift in our thinking and a willingness to embrace new forms of organizing and collaboration. As we continue to navigate the complex and rapidly changing landscape of urbanization, it is essential to explore and experiment with alternative models of urban life that can help us build a more just and sustainable future.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781942173717