This article focuses on the central and ambivalent role that cities play in the context of platform capitalism. While on the one hand, urban spaces have become an advanced ground for the operations of capital, on the other they have also become the main stage for resistance movements. The city is thus emerging as a decisive political and socio-economic dimension for understanding the impact of digital platforms on workers and on society. By presenting two Italian case studies from the city of Bologna, we aim to shed light on how cities not only provide the necessary resources and infrastructures for platforms to rise and operate, but also give rise to movements to organise and resist these developments.
The porticoes of Bologna have, since 2006, been listed in the UNESCO ‘tentative’ list available on its website. Accessed on January 18, 2020 from https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5010.
Forlì airport (FRL) was definitively closed to commercial flights in March 2013.
Statistics on tourism made by the Municipality of Bologna (May 2009). Accessed on January 10, 2020 from http://www.comune.bologna.it/iperbole.
Report ‘Turismo nella città metropolitana di Bologna’ (November 2019). Accessed January 10, 2020 from http://inumeridibolognametropolitana.it/sites/inumeridibolognametropolitana.it/files/turismo/report_turismo_2018_cm_ed2019.pdf.
Data retrieved from the Camera di Commercio official website (accessed on January 10, 2020): https://www.bo.camcom.gov.it/it/statistica-e-studi/home.
Among the top 20 Airbnb Experiences in Bologna, 16 are related to the food and wine sector. https://www.airbnb.it/s/Bologna—BO/experiences (accessed March 10, 2020).
‘HousingBo’ is a permanent lab on student housing conditions in Bologna promoted by the University of Bologna and the local Municipality (November 2019). Results are available at (accessed January 10, 2020): http://www.fondazioneinnovazioneurbana.it/images/2019_HousingBO/2019_11_12_HOUSINGBO_Presentazione.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1TR0jgxp3WkLfRUG79aIJvrQZK5gZwhwas0rmVyjb3aQPFR2DoKRF_SD8.
Results from CCIAA research on tourism and short-term rental platforms. Accessed on December 28, 2019 from https://www.ucer.camcom.it/comunicazione/notizie/pdf-2018/Abstract_Studio.pdf.
As available in the website (accessed March 25, 2020): https://www.incredibol.net/cose-incredibol.
The empirical data in this section come from six semi-structured interviews conducted with privileged observers: respondents were members of the Bologna City Council groups of Coalizione Civica (Civic Coalition), opposed to the local administration and closely linked to two different political groups: Pensare Urbano (PU) and the Riders Union Bologna (RUB), who were also interviewed for this article.
In Italy, the Istruttoria Pubblica (Public Inquiry) is one of the tools used by municipalities to promote participation and to enhance the forms of consultation of inhabitants and citizens. In the case study the topic was that of house deprivation.
On September 4 a public assembly was organised at the Montagnola Park to launch the political campaign of the Istruttoria.
The agenda approved by the City Council. Accessed January 15, 2020 from: http://www.comune.bologna.it/media/files/odg_indirizzi_consiglio_comunale.pdf.
The Councilor's speech is available online (accessed January 16, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ueYmEcd0SXs&fbclid=IwAR0Rt8aIGwX6Q46DSJ6XVMe_DFlR7ZMhFYxwu9uKCEcSuOEbnwcwA_0aOc8.
Lavoretto - literally meaning ‘small job’ - is an Italian way of describing an occasional working opportunity taken up in order to collect a small income. An English equivalent may be a ‘gig’ or work ‘on the side’.