Citation

Pruijt H. Urban Stud. 2013; 50(6): 1114-1129.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Urban Studies Journal Limited, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0042098012460732

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Squatting became illegal in the Netherlands on 1 October 2010. The paper examines the dynamics involved. Theoretically drawing on debates about culture wars, revanchism, moral panics and the creative city, it is based on participant observation in squatter meetings, debates with politicians, a parliament hearing, lobbying meetings and various informal encounters, on a survey and on a collection of documents. A key mechanism that the paper explores is the following. Strategies of resistance that seem more or less manageable in the local context of a creative city can, when they backfire, cause a moral panic on the national level. This provides ammunition for revanchist politicians.

Language: en