Homelessness, Public Space and Civil Disobedience

Abstract

AbstractThis paper argues that anti‐social behaviour, in the context of homelessness, ought to be seen as acts of civil disobedience. Firstly, I identify public space as a hostile space for people experiencing homelessness. Secondly, I detail how this reveals a default interpretation of them as anti‐social through their mere presence. Thirdly, I explore how this de‐politicises. I go onto define and examine civil disobedience theory, as a counter narrative to anti‐social behaviour. I then argue how acts of disruption by people experiencing homelessness in public space can qualify as civil disobedience. I acknowledge this as a wicked problem but claim that flipping the default framing of homelessness in this way has normative gain, undoing the de‐politicising othering that anti‐social behaviour narratives have caused.