The Autonomous Life?: Paradoxes of Hierarchy and Authority in the Squatters ...

Name: The Autonomous Life?: Paradoxes of Hierarchy and Authority in the Squatters ...
Brand: Manchester University Press

Manchester University Press

Explore the complex paradoxes of hierarchy and authority within Amsterdam's squatters' movement in "The Autonomous Life?" by Nazima Kadir. This ethnographic study offers an intimate look into the lives of squatters, with the author living and working within the community for over three years. Kadir experienced firsthand the challenges of squatting, including evictions and incarceration, providing a unique and grounded perspective. The book meticulously examines the inherent contradictions between the movement's anti-hierarchical ideals and the persistent presence of authority and hierarchy within its structure. Kadir analyzes how these contradictions are navigated in daily micro-social interactions, revealing the negotiation of ideological expectations against the backdrop of mainstream norms. Drawing on gender and subaltern studies, "The Autonomous Life?" offers a significant contribution to social movements literature by dissecting the production of power and hierarchy in a radical subculture. A free electronic edition is available under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA) licence. Summary: The Autonomous Life? by Nazima Kadir, Manchester University Press, 232 pages, Paperback, ISBN 9781784994112, published 2016.