by Paco Camberlin

mocracy

From agonistic
struggle to social
hegemony in the
neoliberal city:
The Esso-Häuser
case.

Urban De

Paco Camberlin
Urban Democracy
© All rights reserved 2017
Thesis submitted in fulfilment
of the requirements for the
degree in Bachelor of Arts
in Communication Design

mocracy

Advisors
Prof. Emily Smith
Prof. Dr. habil. Christof
Windgätter

Urban De

From agonistic
struggle to social
hegemony in the
neoliberal city:
The Esso-Häuser
case.

Paco Camberlin

Urban Democracy

5

Table of
Contents
1. Introduction - 07
2. Case Study’s Description - 11
Background - 12

Democratic Planning - 18

St-Pauli & the Reeperbahn
The Esso-Häuser
Investors in the City
“Keine Abriss”: Creative Protests
Dreaming About Alternatives
Clamming Citizen Participation
Based on the Knowledge of the Many
The Collective Production of Desires
The St-Pauli Code

3. Figures of Hamburg - 25
4. Implications & Consequences - 35
The Neoliberal City - 36

The City as Business
2nd Class Citizen
The Post-Political City
Agonistic Struggle & Political Hegemony - 42
Thinking Agonisticaly
Counter Hegemonic Spaces
Designing Collective Identities

5. Reflection & Discussion - 49
An Urban Democracy? - 50

“Double-Democratic”
Design & Democracy
The Trust Issue

5. Concluding - 55
Conclusion - 56
References - 57

tion

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Urban Democracy

1.Introduc

Dear Mr. President,

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9

8

Introduction

In order to get a full picture of what
made PlanBude such a successful
project, one fitting to the idea of Urban
Democracy, I needed to get a deeper
understanding of the history of the
St-Pauli neighborhood as well as it’s
socially engaged dynamic background.
Therefor, I decided to first manage
personal research and observation on
site. This opened an understanding
and a new vision on what actually
the Esso-Häuser and St-Pauli are
as a physical place. It also allowed
me to gather material that made me
recontextualize the struggle both
quantitatively and qualitativelly.

’s Description

11

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2.Case Study

Background

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12

Case Study’s Description

Background

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14

Case Study’s Description

Background

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16

Case Study’s Description

Democratic Planning

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18

Case Study’s Description

Democratic Planning

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20

Case Study’s Description

Democratic Planning

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22

Case Study’s Description

25

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mburg

Democratic Planning

24

Case Study’s Description

3.Figures of Ha

Figures of Hamburg

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What I have shown and explained
in the Esso-Häuser struggle is not
an isolated case. Neighborhoods,
communities and cities all over the
world are experiencing the now
too much known Neoliberalist
globalization process. I will now
put this case in the bigger picture.
First, I am going to analyze what
happened to the Esso-Häuser under
the light of the Neoliberalisation
and its consequences on citizens
along with the depoliticization of our
cities and societies. The outcome of
Esso-Häuser case and the result the
PlanBude project being a rare one,
if not one of a kind, I will, secondly,
bring and defend the analysis of the
project through the political theory
of the Philosopher Chantal Mouffe. I
will argue and underline the agonistic
character of such a struggle as well as
explain the role of design and artistic
practices in establishing this character
and its democratic work towards a
new hegemony.

s & Consequences

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4.Implication

The Neoliberal City

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36

Implications & Consequences

The Neoliberal City

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38

Implications & Consequences

The Neoliberal City

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40

Implications & Consequences

Agonistic Struggle & Political Hegemony

43

42

Implications & Consequences
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Agonistic Struggle & Political Hegemony

45

44

Implications & Consequences
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Agonistic Struggle & Political Hegemony

47

46

Implications & Consequences
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In this last part of the thesis, I now
want to reflect on what has been
argued previously. I will point out
how such a case reflects a democratic
approach to the city and more
generaly to our society on two different
overlaping levels. I will also make a
statement about how designers should
reconsider their work and value in
society if ones wants to put up work
towards democracy. And finally I will
raise an issue which to my point of
view needs to be acknowledged and
probably discussed in a really very
future present.

& Discussion

49

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5. Reflection

An Urban Democracy?

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50

Reflection & Discussion

An Urban Democracy?

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52

Reflection & Discussion

55

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ing

Because it is time to move on and do
something about what have been said.

6.Conclud

Concluding

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References

Postscript

57

References

56

Postscript

References

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Concluding