Spatial agency: Socio-spatial Transformation and Urban Agriculture in the Food Justice Movement

• In Event: 315 - Open Refereed Roundtables Session. B. Table 01 Shared and Contested Spaces
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 01. Shared and Contested Spaces

Abstract

Employing the example of urban agriculture in the food justice movement, this paper argues that social movement scholarship, social theorizing on agency, and theories of space can be merged in order to better understand the contemporary dynamics and possibilities of social movements. First, the paper introduces urban agriculture as a form of collective action related to the food justice movement. Then the paper explores how framing political opportunity, agency, and social change in relationship to space transforms both the current understanding of social movements and the potential possibilities for organizers and organizations seeking to create change in their neighborhoods. The paper overall suggests and orientation towards social movements and social change that includes sustained long term engagement with specific sites in order to create intertwining and enduring socio-spatial transformations.

Author

• Matthew J DelSesto