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Paper short abstract:

In Brussels and Milan civic protests defend unintended nature over future development plans. This article questions to what extent these struggles, in their demand to preserve urban nature, either challenge or reproduce developers’ dualistic way of thinking that places 'nature' outside society.

Paper long abstract:

Both in Milan and Brussels, civic efforts to defend urban nature in contested spaces are emerging. Over the years rewilding processes took place in vacant urban spaces, causing friction between various stakeholders. Notwithstanding the ecological potential of these spaces, they have been earmarked for future development. The emergent protests also imply a struggle over the meaning of nature, a common theme in environmental struggles. Namely, they challenge the idea that the city is a space where development plans automatically prevail over unintended natural amenities. This in fact is possible through the unfolding of ‘othering’, a dualistic way of thinking that distinguishes between what constitutes human and natural spaces. This article analyzes how and to what extent these urban struggles challenge or reproduce this kind of ‘othering’, by placing ‘nature’ outside society in the demand to preserve urban nature as an alternative to a more sustainable future. In doing so, this article aims to broaden the understanding of the various meanings of nature rooted in urban protests. Empirical evidence is provided by an analysis based on ethnographic work, interviews and documents from both Brussels and Milan where four similar struggles developed around contested green spaces. By the analysis of context-specific case studies, a broader understanding is gained about how and when the 'othering' of nature is produced and challenged, and how ‘othering’ is informed by its context. This will give insight into whether the emerging urban struggles envision a different ecological future that goes beyond a dualistic way of thinking.