Μετακινούμενοι πληθυσμοί και χειραφετικές πρακτικές στην Αθήνα της κρίσης (Moving Populations and emancipatory practices in Athens )

Contemporary metropolises are not only centers of global economic and political power, as many scholars have noted (Beaverstock, Smith, Taylor ), but also vibrant meeting points for people from nearly every part of the world. Taking Lefebvre’s perspective that space is shaped by the lived, everyday experiences of its inhabitants, these cities owe their character to the simultaneous presence of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Athens today, heavily impacted by the ongoing economic and social crisis, is undergoing radical transformation as a result of the settlement and transit of millions of people. While many of these populations often are in a state of exception—often detained in camps as Agamben notes—they also succeed in creating their own heterotopic spaces within the urban landscape. Through their daily lives, they act as agents of disruption, challenging the city’s dominant image and entrenched borders. In line with Stavridis, they produce spaces of resistance and emancipation. Simultaneously, neighborhoods shaped by intersecting class, ethnic, and gender relations serve as links within both local and global networks in these new cities. This paper critically examines divided urban spaces—such as ghettos, redeveloped areas, and spaces of exclusionary inclusion—to reveal dynamics of coexistence within the urban fabric. By highlighting spaces rooted in resistance rather than fear, this study focuses on emancipatory spatial practices that arise from the encounters and conflicts among young urban residents. Through various scales of analysis, it examines everyday local practices that influence different parts of the city and foster conditions in conflict with dominant power structures.