Urban struggles for the right to housing in Lisbon in times of pandemic

Abstract

In Lisbon, during the covid-19 pandemic period, the action of urban social movements was intensified, capitalizing on the visibility of the right to housing as a basic human right and an unconditional public health imperative to fulfill the duties of quarantine and social isolation imposed by the State of Exception. Describing the process of urban struggles, participation and contestation, as well as gains from the moratorium on evictions and rent payments, we conclude that the actors in this urban struggle have limited power over the changes they initiate, or make an effort to inflict, if they are not involved in a concerted and politically integrated action, not least because the achievements they obtain are temporary and exceptional, similar to the state of emergency imposed by covid-19.