K-Lab and 
Robert Bosch Stiftung
Julia Förster, Julita Skodra, Katleen De Flander, Natasha Aruri, and others
2023
The CMMM (Critical Mapping for Municipalist Movements) project is a research initiative aimed at empowering civil society to create just cities through political transformation. Conducted from 2019 to 2023 in Barcelona, Belgrade, and Berlin, the project focuses on critical mapping as a democratizing tool to visualize urban issues. Key findings emphasize the importance of municipalist movements in reshaping local politics, with housing identified as a central theme due to its universal relevance. Each city offers unique insights into challenges like housing affordability and gentrification. The methodology included collaborative workshops and mapping exercises grounded in feminist data visualization principles. Funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the project highlights how critical mapping can support municipalist movements in addressing urban challenges, fostering international collaboration among activists and researchers.
The CMMM (Critical Mapping for Municipalist Movements) project is a practice-oriented research initiative aimed at supporting civil society actors in their efforts to create just societies and cities through political transformation. The project focuses on critical mapping as a tool for empowerment, allowing communities to reshape narratives and discourses around urban issues. The project was conducted over 3.5 years, from 2019 to 2023, and involved collaborative research in three cities: Barcelona, Belgrade, and Berlin.
Key Findings and Themes
- Critical Mapping: The project emphasizes the democratization of mapping technologies, which were traditionally elitist. By making these tools accessible, the project aims to empower communities to visualize complex urban issues and advocate for change.
- Municipalist Movements: The research highlights the role of municipalist movements in reshaping local politics. Each city—Barcelona, Belgrade, and Berlin—offers unique insights into how these movements are challenging established political structures.
- Housing as a Central Theme: Housing was chosen as the focal point due to its universal relevance and the pressing need for reform in all three cities. The project explores issues like housing affordability, evictions, and the financialization of real estate.
- Comparative Urban Analysis: By comparing different urban contexts, the project identifies both common challenges and unique local dynamics. For instance, while Barcelona has a strong municipalist movement that has influenced local governance, Belgrade is still developing its municipalist framework amidst post-socialist transitions.
Context and Authors
The CMMM project was initiated by a team of researchers and activists at a Robert Bosch Stiftung event in December 2017. Key figures include Julia Förster, Julita Skodra, Katleen De Flander, Natasha Aruri, and Andreas Brück. The project received funding from the Robert Bosch Stiftung and additional support from K LAB at TU Berlin.
City-Specific Insights
- Belgrade: The city's housing crisis is exacerbated by neoliberal policies and a high percentage of privately owned housing. The Ministry of Space collective is actively working to address these issues through critical mapping and advocacy.
- Berlin: With a majority tenant population, Berlin faces challenges related to gentrification and affordable housing. Civic initiatives are pushing for Gemeinwohloriented governance to counter neoliberal influences.
- Barcelona: Known for its dynamic political environment, Barcelona's housing crisis is linked to tourism-driven demand and insufficient tenant protections. Local movements are advocating for more robust public housing policies.
Methodology
The CMMM process involved collaborative workshops, mapping exercises, and the development of interactive tools to visualize urban data. These activities were guided by principles of feminist data visualization, emphasizing pluralism, empowerment, and context sensitivity.
Overall, the CMMM project serves as a model for how critical mapping can be used to support municipalist movements in addressing urban challenges related to housing and beyond. It highlights the importance of local context while fostering international collaboration among activists and researchers.