Potential benefits and challenges of the relationship between social movements and the commons in the city of Barcelona

In this manuscript, we explore the potential benefits and challenges of the interaction between urban movements and the commons in the urban context, within their political and social framework. The reclaiming and consolidation of buildings that belong to the City Council to create community centres managed by local residents are analysed as commons, using a multiple case method with a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings show that urban movements use strategy and experience to contribute to the struggle for obtaining management of the commons. Once the facilities have been granted to local residents, the commons have the potential to nourish urban movements and to promote solidarity among local residents and movements. Moreover, the involvement of urban movements in the management of the commons leads to greater participative governance, and encourages debates about alternative civic models. Even though local policies that promote and protect the commons represent an opportunity for them to grow, the agreements established with the city council can limit the capacity for the commons to become alternative spaces for reinventing the city.