Reflections from a dynamic forum for social movement scholarship

On June 16-18, several of SUSTAIN ACTION members participated in the 30th edition of the international and interdisciplinary conference Alternative Futures & Popular Protest (AFPP), held in Manchester. The conference was founded and organized by Colin Barker and Mike Tyldesley at Manchester Metropolitan University between 1995-2018 and has focused on “social and political movements, protest, and the building of alternative forms of social life for a different future”.

Panel discussion at the AFPP "Patterns of Climate Disobedience 2018-2025"

The 2025 conference attracted over 100 scholars from all over the world. There was work presented on social movements and protests in Japan, Chile, Colombia, USA, Canada, Taiwan, Bangladesh, along with several European countries. Two panel discussions revolved around climate disobedience and solidarity with Palestine. The conceptual and empirical breadth of the studies presented at the conference was truly impressive and inspiring. The atmosphere and social activities arranged by the organizers facilitated discussions after the presentations.

Michaela Pixóva presents our collaborative work at the AFPP

We presented four ongoing projects. One paper “Mobilizing care in the polycrisis: Reframing eco-social activism in Hungary, Czechia and Poland” presented research focusing on how activists in these countries are mobilising care as a central framework for addressing interconnected crises. In another presentation “The kitchen-work of collaborative research: recipes for transformative methodologies” we conceptualized the often invisible, relational and preparatory labour involved in participatory research with movements working on housing, climate justice, or food sovereignty. The third presentation was a book chapter written with Lisa Kings, at Södertörn University, conceptualizing urban struggles in Sweden, focusing on the contributions of longitudinal research to methodological and conceptual advancement of social movement studies. The fourth presentation was the work developed with Enikö Vincze, “The politics of research on real estate transformations: collective actions and knowledge production” discussing how theory and practice can be fruitfully combined in the study of housing and real estate.

Ioana Florea and Enikö Vincze present their paper at AFPP

Participating in the AFPP conference was an exceptionally fruitful experience. The conference’s focus consistently stimulated rich theoretical and empirical discussions, spanning diverse methods, regions, and historical periods. The spirit of collegiality and equality allowed both early-career and established academics and activists to engage as equals. It nurtured ongoing conversations that extended beyond formal sessions, creating lasting intellectual and personal connections. We will certainly return to AFPP!