Governed by atmospheres: Affect, materiality and everyday benevolence in homeless encampments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article explores the operation of homeless encampments as a part of governance by highlighting the role of affective atmospheres. The COVID-19 pandemic and the imposition of lockdowns have seen the introduction of unprecedented measures into homelessness governance in Czech cities. Some have set up temporary homeless encampments as a response to the declaration of the state of emergency. Relying on interviews and observations, this article reveals that such measures in cities differed significantly in both character and outcomes. Based on a repeated instances comparison of the socio-material and affective entanglements of operating two emergency encampments – one in the regional city of Pilsen and the other in the capital city of Prague – the article argues that affective atmospheres play a vital role in their practical operations and perceived outcomes. While no simple dichotomy is implied, in Pilsen, order was implemented through a surveillance logic that instigated conflicts and created an atmosphere of frustration, while in Prague, the benevolence and mutuality of people in the camp led to a relaxed atmosphere. The article introduces the notion of ‘governed by atmospheres’ and argues that it opens space for a more complex and nuanced examination of the unintended outcomes of particular policies and politics in homelessness governance.

摘要

本文通过强调情感氛围的作用，探讨了作为治理的一部分的无家可归者营地的运营。新冠疫情和封锁的实施见证了捷克各城市在无家可归者治理方面所采取的前所未有的措施。在城市宣布进入紧急状态后，作为应对措施，一些城市建立了临时的无家可归者营地。通过访谈和观察，本文揭示了城市中的此类措施在性质和结果上都存在显著差异。我们选取了两个紧急营地（一个在区域中心城市比尔森，另一个在首都布拉格）作为案例，对两个紧急营地的运营所面临的社会物质和情感方面的复杂情况进行了多次比较，在此基础上，本文认为情感氛围在他们的实际运营和感知结果中起着至关重要的作用。尽管不能简单地将两者一分为二，但在比尔森，秩序是通过煽动冲突并营造沮丧氛围的监视逻辑来实施的，而在布拉格，营地中人们的仁慈和互助营造了轻松的氛围。本文介绍了“用氛围来治理”的概念，并认为该概念开辟了更为广阔的空间，使人们能够对无家可归者治理中特定政策和政治的意外结果进行更复杂、更细致的审视。