Tensions between neoliberalism and the provision of housing.

Escriba Piro, Estel

4. Term

Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Master

2016

2016-06-02

Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan neoliberale politiker og markedslogik gør det sværere at få adgang til betalelige boliger ved at behandle boliger og byrum som varer og investeringer. Spanien er et relevant eksempel, fordi landet var under diktatur, mens neoliberalismen tog form i andre vestlige lande. Den forsinkede indførelse af neoliberale politikker hænger sammen med en historisk mangel på almene boliger. Analysen består af tre dele. For det første vises det, hvordan neoliberalisme har præget spansk boligpolitik og boligforsyning gennem flere tendenser, blandt andet fremme af boligejerskab, let adgang til kredit, decentralisering af staten og brug af boligudbygning som kriserespons og som investeringsstrategi. For det andet undersøges to byudviklingsprojekter, Diagonal Mar og 22@, hvor neoliberale træk påvirkede omfanget af almene boliger. Diagonal Mar endte uden almene boliger, mens 22@ fik forbedret andelen takket være lokalforeningers indsats. For det tredje samler specialet trådene og ser på, hvilke begrundelser udfordrer retten til byen gennem boligspørgsmålet. Resultatet peger på to niveauer: dels de brede historiske, institutionelle og reguleringsmæssige rammer, dels forhold knyttet til den konkrete sag. Samlet belyser specialet, hvordan neoliberalismen påvirker retten til byen i Spanien, og hvordan lokalt engagement kan afbøde nogle af effekterne i bestemte projekter.

This thesis examines how neoliberal policies and market logic make it harder to access affordable housing by treating homes and urban space as commodities and investments. Spain is a relevant case because, while neoliberalism was taking shape in other Western countries, Spain was under a dictatorship. The delayed adoption of neoliberal policies is linked to a long-standing shortfall of social housing. The research includes three analyses. First, it shows how neoliberalism shaped Spanish housing policy and supply through several trends, including promoting homeownership, easy access to credit, decentralization of the state, and using housing expansion as a crisis response and as an investment strategy. Second, it studies two urban developments, Diagonal Mar and 22@, where neoliberal features affected the provision of social housing. Diagonal Mar ended up with no social housing, while in 22@ local associations helped improve the share of social housing. Third, it brings these findings together to examine the rationales that challenge the right to the city, understood as residents’ ability to access and shape urban life, through the lens of housing. The results point to two levels: broad historical, institutional, and regulatory frameworks, and case-specific factors. Overall, the thesis sheds light on how neoliberalism affects the right to the city in Spain, and how local engagement can mitigate some effects in particular projects.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

neoliberalism ; Spain ; Barcelona ; 22@ ; Diagonal Mar

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects