Possibilities of Urban Belonging. Issue 2 (13th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bauder, Harald
• Is Part Of: Antipode. Volume 48:Issue 2(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 271
• Publication Date: 2015-08-13
• Subjects: illegalized migrants -- utopian imagination -- domicle -- right to the city -- sanctuary cities -- urban protests; Geography -- Periodicals; 910.5
• DOI: 10.1111/anti.12174
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0066-4812

Abstract

Abstract: Many migrants who inhabit cities are illegalized, excluded from formal membership in urban communities, and denied full participation in urban life. In this article, I examine the possibilities of all inhabitants to belong to the city. Drawing on Ernst Bloch, David Harvey, Henry Lefebvre, and others, I theorize different "layers" of possibility and review the literature to explore how these layers apply to urban belonging. Furthermore, I investigate how urban protests and activist practices can materially transform the city to be more accommodating to illegalized migrants, while evoking the different layers of possibility. I conclude with a discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of contemplating the possibilities of urban belonging.