Training

Barricades were and are a recurring element in urban conflicts. It is important to understand their origin and development in order to comprehend their historical and current function. The barricade was born in Paris in 1588 during the Day of the Barricades, an episode of the eighth war of religion in France. Parisians used barrels filled with earth and stones to block the streets and defend themselves from the troops of King Henry III. This construction system gave the object … Read more

The term “fascism” is often used in a broad sense to describe authoritarian behaviors, but its academic meaning requires distinguishing three fundamental definitions. First, it refers to the historical Italian phenomenon; second, to the European authoritarian regimes of the interwar period; and third, to an analytical category of authoritarianism applicable to broader contexts. This distinction is essential to avoid imprecise uses of the concept. The first meaning identifies fascism with the political movement led by Benito Mussolini in Italy between … Read more

The term “fascism” comes from the Latin fasces, which in ancient Rome referred to a bundle of rods tied around an axe. This symbol represented the authority and power of magistrates to punish citizens, as well as the strength that comes from unity: a single rod can be easily broken, but a bundle is unbreakable. The Italian word fascio (bundle) gave its name to the “Fasci di Combattimento”, founded by Benito Mussolini in Milan on March 23, 1919, deliberately reclaiming … Read more

When hate speech seeks to impose itself through intimidation and martial solemnity, the most effective response can be found in strategies that avoid violent confrontation. Creativity and humor are tools of resistance with a long historical tradition, now regaining relevance as a way to dismantle fascist narratives without yielding to their logic. The tactic of the subversive clown has its roots in the British group “Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army” (CIRCA), founded in 2003, which combined improvisational theatre with civil … Read more

Understanding the differences between these four concepts allows a more rigorous analysis of social and political processes. In political and media discourse, terms such as revolution, rebellion, reform, and coup d’état are often used imprecisely or interchangeably. Knowing their precise meaning allows people to form an informed opinion and interpret historical and contemporary events beyond ideological labels. Revolution is a profound and radical change in the political, social, and economic structures of a community, usually involving broad popular participation and … Read more

In social movements, a psychosocial phenomenon known as learned helplessness occurs when individuals or activist groups, after repeated exposure to repressive or invisibilizing situations, internalize the belief that they cannot change oppressive structures. This mechanism undermines individual and collective confidence, weakens the capacity for joint action, and facilitates political paralysis. A historical example of this dynamic is the Solidarity movement in Poland during the 1980s. Founded in the Gdańsk shipyards and led by Lech Wałęsa, it mobilized around 10 million … Read more

 Personal or institutional dependence on technological tools from corporations like Google and Microsoft constitutes a structural threat that goes beyond individual privacy. These companies operate through extractive models that commodify personal data, restrict interoperability, and create dependency through proprietary confinement or “vendor lock-in,” making it practically impossible to switch to another service provider. When using proprietary software, control over sensitive information is surrendered. Imposed updates modify functionalities without consent, algorithms manipulate behavior, and security breaches expose data to third parties. … Read more

The documentary This Is What Democracy Looks Like (2000), directed by Jill Friedberg and Rick Rowley, captures the essence of the protests against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Seattle in November 1999. Filmed on location with cameras provided by activists, the film compiles first-hand accounts of demonstrations that brought together more than 50,000 people from all walks of life and backgrounds (from trade unionists to environmentalists, from First Nations groups to anarchists) in what was a key turning point … Read more

The power structure has historically sought to associate protest and dissent with violence by using different concepts as synonyms, thus equating violence with dissent and non-violence with reformist processes. Five key concepts will therefore be distinguished below: Violence. Violence is understood as the deliberate use of physical or psychological force against individuals, groups or communities with the intention of causing harm. Galtung distinguishes between three levels: Direct violence. Explicit acts involving actions that cause physical or psychological harm to individuals … Read more

Due to the exceptional health situation that has led to a declaration of a state of emergency by COVID-19, the workshops scheduled for March 20 and April 3 that were to take place within the framework of these sessions are delayed. The new dates will be indicated when the situation returns to normal. Until then we hope that all of you are well.