Restless Cities on the Edge Collective Actions, Immigration and Populism

This book is a sociological description and analysis of urban collective actions, protests, resistance, and riots that started in the 1990s and continue in different forms to this date in Rome, Italy. Through participant observation, ethnographic study, and in-depth qualitative interviews—often occurring during times of protest or even violent action—this book studies a variety of urban realities: grassroots movements, anti-migrant district riots, and the daily lives of the fluid and fluctuating multi-ethnic groups in the city. Ultimately, this book gives voice to some of the protagonists involved, proposing interpretations to each reality described, but also making cross-connections with politics and migration when pertinent. It offers a new understanding of urban collective actions cognizant of the 'common goods', but also of the emergence of new right-wing populism.

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: On the Coast of the Capital.- Chapter 3: Tor Sapienza.- Chapter 4: Torpignattara.- Chapter 5: A Lesson at Esquilino.- Chapter 6: The Rise of Populism and the “School of Sardines”.- Chapter 7: Popular Populism and New Collective Actions.

Antimo Luigi Farro is a Full Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences and Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. His published books include Reimagining Social Movements: From Collectives to Individuals (Ed. with Henri Lustiger-Thaler, Routledge 2016).

Simone Maddanu received his PhD in Sociology at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) of Paris, France. He currently teaches sociology and contemporary social problems at the University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. He has published books and articles related to social movements, immigration, Islam in Europe, common goods, and modernity.