Confessions of an organizational space writer

Abstract

Writing more affectively represents a form of activism particularly necessary in organizational literature on space. The omission of relevant spatial problems of society like immigration is discussed in a confession, inspired by a PhD student’s critique at an European Group of Organizational Studies event. By means of relating personal and third parties’ experiences in affective ways, the article situates itself in a rich tradition of autoethnographic and qualitative reflexive research. Different ways of writing constitute a methodological strategy for theory building which here is addressed to advance organizational literature on space. An agenda for future research is suggested and a new affective sensitivity is called for to incite writings emotionally supported by their authors’ heartfelt involvement, which shows an aesthetic care for the reader. An activist writing agenda for organizational space scholars calls for non-boring appreciations of humor and irony that help to cope with life’s societal relevant hardships.