Spatial Materiality, Nomadic Movement and Homeless Resistance Against Urban Reconstruction
Dr. Torkild Thanem, a Research Fellow at Stockholm University will deliver this lecture as part of the Organizations, Institutions & Change seminar series. All are invited to attend.
Topic: Beyond Discourse: Spatial Materiality, Nomadic Movement and Homeless Resistance Against Urban Reconstruction
Abstract: Management and organizational research on resistance tends to privilege the discursive expression of resistance. Drawing on a case study of how homeless people coped with the physical reconstruction of two public places in the city of Stockholm, I will therefore in this talk discuss how resistance may be expressed silently and materially, through nomadic movement. Whereas urban planners tried to drive out homeless dwellers through these reconstruction efforts, a number of homeless dwellers returned. I further analyze how these nomadic movements were enabled by homeless cynicism and contentment, and I discuss the effectiveness of these resistance practices. Finally, I discuss what implications this may have for homeless people and urban planning organizations, and for the understanding of resistance in management and organization studies.