ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to study how the goals of squatting are legitimized in the discourse produced by squatters. First, the chapter presents a typology of the main motivations behind squatting in Sweden between 1968 and 2017: to provide housing; to preserve areas from clearance and demolition; to create free social and cultural spaces; to provide good educational conditions; to protect the environment; to improve service provision. Legitimation techniques are then discussed revolving around the issues of democracy, representation, morality and rationality. The main legitimation techniques used by the squatters present squatting as an inherently democratic practice, as morally right and respectable, as representing citizens’ needs and highly rational. The current political system is criticized by the squatters for its inability to satisfy the needs of the people by prioritizing profitability and market solutions. Top-down political decisions are condemned as hurtful to, and detached from, the reality of ordinary people and the squatters often describe the objective of squatting as contributing to the improvement of local democracy. Squatting is portrayed as morally correct in the light of the undemocratic, arbitrary and biased decisions taken by the politicians. The disproportion in the rights of ordinary residents and citizens and the capitalists and power-holders, is presented by the squatters as somewhat restored when the distribution of resources is balanced through their reappropriation.
