The Neapolitan way to the commons: poetics of irony and ‘creative use of the law’ in the case ofL’Asilo

Neapolitan social movements for the commons have successfully challenged clientelistic and corrupt public resource management, offering a scalable model of civic engagement. Through ethnographic research, this study highlights the cultural and political underpinnings of commoning practices in Naples, focusing on L'Asilo—a pioneering community that secured legal recognition for the 'civic use' of an occupied historic building. The approach combines irony and strategic legal maneuvering ('creative use of the law') to subvert traditional power structures while fostering alternative governance models. This case demonstrates how local activism can redefine public space, policy, and democratic participation, with implications extending beyond Naples.

Vesco, A. (2021). The Neapolitan way to the commons: poetics of irony and ‘creative use of the law’ in the case ofL’Asilo. Journal of Modern Italian Studies, 27(1), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571x.2021.1950339