Towards a libertarian turn? Notes on the past and future of radical urban research and praxis

Marxists have always tried to present the history of the workers' movement as if it were the history of Marxist organising efforts, and the history of critical ideas as if it were the history of Marxist thought; consequently, the crisis of Marxism has been presented as a crisis of radical thought as such. However, new radical social movements and thinkers have appeared during the last two decades - and a libertarian flavour is a common feature of many of these movements and thinkers. It would be wrong to exaggerate the contemporary role of libertarian thought and praxis, as some of them still present Marxist discursive or even practical elements; that is to say, some of them are more or less 'hybrid.' But it would be equally wrong to deny the relevance of a clear, present-day resurgence of libertarian ideas and ideals. The scenario of a widespread 'libertarian turn' similar to the 'radical [≈ Marxist] turn' of the 1970s is for several reasons unlikely. Nonetheless, considering some current trends, the hypothesis of a 'mid-ranged' or 'partial' libertarian turn is totally plausible. In fact, my hypothesis is that such a 'libertarian turn' is already ongoing. How can socio-spatial research in general, and urban studies in particular, help us understand (and perhaps inspire or at least support) the (re)new(ed) forms of insurgent praxis and thinking we have witnessed in the last two decades? And to what extent will the libertarians (activists, academics and scholars-activists) be able to explore and use the currently existing room for manoeuvre?