Program
2025 Summer School on Municipalism and Commoning
The Summer School on Municipalism and Commoning is an immersive two-week experience designed for activists, scholars, practitioners, and community organisers interested in transformative political and socio-ecological alternatives. Organised by Research & Degrowth International (R&Di), this year’s edition takes place in Catalunya in June 2025 and focuses on municipalism and commoning—exploring how local governance, collective ownership, and grassroots democracy can foster a just and sustainable future.
week 1
The first week (June 9th-13th) will be static, based in Girona, where participants will engage in lectures, workshops, and field visits to local projects. The first week takes place in Girona, a historic city with a vibrant tradition of social movements and municipalist politics.
The program includes:
Lectures & Discussions: Keynote talks on municipalism, radical democracy, and commoning practices.
Workshops: Interactive sessions on community self-management, participatory governance, and solidarity economies.
Field Visits: Exploring cooperatives, self-organized spaces, and commons-based projects in the region.
Networking & Social Events: Opportunities to connect with like-minded people in an informal setting.
Group Debates & Reflections: Daily facilitated discussions to collectively analyze the day’s learning and share perspectives.
week 2
The second (June 15th-21st) week is a nomadic journey by bike, moving through different towns and rural areas in Catalunya. We will meet with local collectives, grassroots movements and share experience of resistance and collective autonomous governance.
The exact route and program will be shared closer to the date. However, expect:
Community visits: Meet local groups reclaiming urban and rural commons.
Workshops on the road: countermapping sesssions.
Camping & communal living: Self-organized spaces, collective meals, and participatory decision-making.
Environmental awareness: Reflection on sustainable mobility, land struggles, and climate justice.
Local Cultural Experiences: Encounters activists, artists, and storytellers engaged in resistance movements.
Participants should be prepared for moderate physical activity (daily cycling distances will be reasonable) and communal outdoor living. A bike is required; you could bring your own or rent one (we will help you with this process but you will have to cover the costs). You will also need to bring your own camping material (e.g. tents and sleeping bag), but let us know if that is a problem for you and we can work to help you figure it out.
Static week program
* This program might be slightly modified.
** The Roundtables will be open to the public. They will be in Catalan and there will be translation services.
***Optional activity Thursday 12th. Starting at 18h: public climate hearing at the Town Hall building to review and develop the city’s strategy for addressing the climate emergency. The event will include a space for participation and debate between the City Council, citizens, and various organizations. At 20h: presentation of the report on a post-growth municipal strategy for Girona done by R&D.
