Reclaiming Urban Spaces: Grassroots Movements and the Opportunity for Community-Centered Governance in Rome and Marseille

The article explores how grassroots socio-cultural movements are reshaping spatial governance in two Mediterranean cities—Rome (Italy) and Marseille (France)—in the context of emerging public policies on community-led urban regeneration. Using a qualitative research approach that incorporates case studies, fieldwork, and policy analysis, the study examines how these initiatives navigate processes of institutionalization within urban environments where the commodification of public space is increasingly contested. Focusing on the evolving governance models in spaces such as Spin Time Labs in Rome and La Friche La Belle de Mai in Marseille, the research critically assesses the potential of these grassroots movements to enhance social cohesion, promote sustainable urban strategies, and challenge market-driven development paradigms. Through a multiple case study analysis, the article investigates how bottom-up social innovation practices influence urban policy and public space governance in these cities. It aims to identify the conditions under which grassroots initiatives can foster alternative societal frameworks and resist economic and political pressures. Additionally, the research reflects on the complexities and tensions that arise as these movements become institutionalized, particularly as they balance their radical agendas with the demands of formal governance structures. By situating the case studies within the broader socio-political landscape, this research seeks to provide insights into the evolving relationship between civil society and urban governance, offering critical reflections on the challenges that grassroots movements face when advocating for alternative societal frameworks and cultural paradigms in contemporary urban settings.