Research Proposal
From Amsterdam Wiki
Contents |
Abstract
The squatting movement of Amsterdam has progressed since the middle of the 1960s. Since the beginning of the movement, there have been many changes in Dutch law to negotiate with the squatters. The primary motive for squatting in Amsterdam is housing. Many living spaces in Amsterdam are left vacant for a long time, and people need a place to live. There have been other motivations besides the housing issue. Squatters have helped with discouraging city road planning and maintaining low income housing in the city. They have created a extensive communication system to distribute information. The squatting movement has made a large impact in Amsterdam history as it has become accepted into the city's way of life.
Background
Squatting in Amsterdam is a phenomenon that the average American is probably not accustomed to. As I searched for information about my original topic of dumpster diving in amsterdam, I stumble across the word, "squat". For me, squatting was where people would occupy a hom that did not belong to them, and they would proceed to live there for free until being kicked out. I had learned a little about squatting in US history, but I am not familiar with the idea. In Seattle, I have not experienced squatting. There have been homeless people sleeping on the streets or in shelters, but nothing that is comparable to the squats in Amsterdam. The closest subject that I would compare Amsterdam squats to is a student coop. In the University District in Seattle, I know of a coop where a group of people communally live. They are able to occupy the space with minimal expenses, and they are generally political. The coop is legal, while the squats are not. However, after so many years, squats may become legalized.
According to Squatting: the real story, the population of Amsterdam was 700,000 residents in 1980. Of that number there was an estimated 5,000 people on the waiting list for apartments. It took up to four years to get to the top of the list. The squatting movement started in the mid-1960s in Amsterdam, and there were between 6,000 and 7,000 squatted houses in Amsterdam in the spring of 1980. Squatters have had strong influences on the policy making of changes in Amsterdam. They were involved in issues such as prevention of road building, hotel and office plans, and to maintian low income housing in the city centre. By 1980, there were fifteen information centers around Amsterdam with consulting meetings for people inquiring about starting squats. Squats have been used for many purposes: printshop, restaurants, bars, radio stations, etc.
In order to make sense of this phenomenon, I must think Dutch.
Research Question
I would like to look at squatting from the sociological perspective. In order to make it more specific, I would like to limit my research to looking at people involved in squatting in the city of Amsterdam. In Amsterdam’s squat culture, why do people still participate in the activity when this movement has been around since the 1960s? Who are the squatters? I’m very interested in the topic because squatting is something I’ve overlooked and have never heard of before. It seems to be an active form of activism that I’ve never seen. It’s a chance for free food and other resources that promotes teamwork and community. It relates to the broad topic of social motives in waste reduction and management because it is a small underground movement that involves waste reduction.
Research Methods
In this research project, I would like to conduct two methods of research: interview and observation. I will be using the general format of conducting an interview as displayed in the handout by Dr. Philip Howard called “Organizing an In-depth Interview”. The interview portion is very important because it is one of the best ways to actually learn about Amsterdam squats from a conversation. There are many limitations to interviews. I will need to conduct several interviews because each informant will come to the interview with their own bias, which includes background, political preferences, etc. Here are some preliminary interview questions, which will change and become more focused once they are finalized: How did you get started with squatting? How do you squat? Why do you do it? Describe encounters with law enforcement. What do you typically look for? What do you find? Is it a group activity for you, or more individual? Have you ever gotten sick from being in a squat? Do you practice other tasks to be more sustainable? Please explain. How often? Is squatting dangerous? What do you need to know? Are there any organizations that encourage and aid squatting? Do you think your efforts impact the environment and society?
Observation is also a very important component of my research because I will be able to actively see the act of squatting taking place. I will approach this component by the example of the article, “A Walk Around the Block,” by Lynch. The limitation will be only seeing aspects of the experience from my point of view. I will come in with my own bias, and I will focus on certain aspects over others.
I will bring certain biases and assumptions to this research project. However, I am not very familiar with the subject so I feel that the biases and assumptions I may possess are very small. Because I’m an American, I will perceive things differently. I may act differently as well. Right now I don’t think I’m assuming much about the people I am going to meet because the concept of squatting is rather unfamiliar.
By collecting all this data through interviews and observation, I will look at trends and determine the behavior of the activity of squatting. I will reflect on what I’ve found in terms of the culture and community aspect as well as whether it is an effective activity.
Human Subjects
My methods for recruiting will consist of preparation work as well as on the spot research. I will look at blogs and websites that relate to squatting and alternative lifestyles online to find contact information of potential interviewees. In Amsterdam, I will go to the squatting communities such as bars and restaurants, and I will talk to people as well as recruiting for interviewees.
I will do a couple things to insure confidentiality and anonymity is an efficient option for informants to choose in participating in my research. At the beginning of any method (interview and observation) I will provide the informant the opportunity to remain anonymous. I will keep the real identities in my record if the informants choose to provide them. I will only publish information of the informants by identifying them by number. If the sites of urban scavenging or squatting are sensitive I will not publish any specifics about the location. If I end up taking pictures at a sensitive site, I will make sure to exclude any reveling aspects of the location in the photo. I am applying for IRB approval, but I have not completed the human subjects application. I plan on submitting the application by the end of June with Alex Gwozda.
Daily Research Schedule
In preparing for this research project, I’ve made a tentative schedule of tasks to do before and during the trip to the Netherlands. Before leaving for Amsterdam, I will need to accomplish some tasks in the months of June and July. I will contact the squats that I’ve found online and set up interviews with people for the month of August through email. I also will set up a plan for observations and learn more about the squatting culture in Amsterdam. Once we arrive in Amsterdam, I would like to visit all the squat communities that I can. I want to make contacts of people that I can interview and survey as well as people who I can observe. In order to find people for this research project, I will have already contacted individuals in the squats. So far, I have a brief schedule of visits to squats because the hours of operation are variable.
This is a list of places I would like to visit:
1. MOLLI
Meeting place, bar, restaurant
Van Ostadestraat 55 huis (676 1427)
2. OCCII
Bar/Club
Amstelveenseweg 134 www.occii.org
3. VRANKRIJK
Information and bar
Spuistraat 216 www.vrankrijk.org
4. ACADEMIE OT301
Performance Center, restaurant
Overtoom 301 http://squat.net/overtoom301
5. EINDE VAN DE WERELD
Restaurant
Opposite Javakade 21 (419 0222)
6. DE MAYO
Restaurant
Frederik Hendrikstraat 111-115 (684 6437)
7. NV314
Restaurant
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 314
8. ZAAL 100
Restaurant
De Wittenstraat 100 (688 0127)
9. FORT VAN SJAKOO
Political bookstore
Jodenbreestraat 24 (625 8979)
I would like to visit each location within the first two weeks of August. It’s important to go to Vrankrijk because it holds a lot of information about the squatting community. I may not be able to go to Academie OT301 because it may be closed for holiday all of the month. Each squat has specific hours for events; therefore, this is the schedule that I’m looking at for now. July 31: 5pm – Fort Van Sjakoo. August 1: 9pm - Vrankrijk. August 2: 7pm - Molli. August 7: 6pm - Academie OT301, 7pm - Zaal 100. August 8: 5pm - NV314, 6pm- Einde Van de Wereld. August 9: 8pm – De Mayo. In addition to these visits, I will interview informants and observe urban scavenging yet to be scheduled.
The equipment I will use will depend on how anonymous I need to make this research. Ideally, I would like to record interviews with an audio device as well as use a camera to obtain a good visual of the squats. A video recording would be nice as well; however, it is not necessary.
Reference List
- ADILKNO. Cracking the Movement: squatting beyond the media.
- Nick Anning. Squatting: the real story. p208-212
- Van der Raad, Jan. Kraken in Amsterdam.
- Short Squat Guide. ([1])
