Researching as a Commoner: Affect and the Lives of Underprivileged Mobile Youth in Greece

Stelios Pantazidis () and Yannis Pechtelidis
Additional contact information
Stelios Pantazidis: Lab of Sociology of Education, Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece
Yannis Pechtelidis: Lab of Sociology of Education, Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: This paper examines the role of commons-based activist ethnography in reshaping the dynamics between researchers and underprivileged mobile youth (UMY), focusing on the opportunities and ethical challenges of this approach. Conducted in youth centers in Thessaloniki, Greece, the study explores how trust, affect, and collaborative knowledge creation supported agency among UMY while confronting systemic barriers and power asymmetries. Using qualitative ethnographic methods, the research investigates the role of convivial spaces and the ambiance of the commons in creating meaningful connections and emotional resilience, enabling the participants to articulate aspirations and reclaim agency. The dual role of the researcher as an advocate and observer raised questions about representation and power dynamics. This paper contributes to discussions on activist ethnography by offering insights into its possibilities and limitations in advancing transformative research with marginalized populations.

Keywords: affect; commons; commons-based activist ethnography; migrants and refugees; underprivileged mobile youth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/19/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/1/19/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:1:p:19-:d:1560364

Access Statistics for this article

Social Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Yvonne Chu

More articles in Social Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().