‘Activist expertise’: An interactionist approach to social movements’ knowledge production and its impact

This article addresses knowledge and expertise produced by social movements as an essential part of their strategies and aims, and as ones of their most significant possible consequences. Bridging the interactive approach in social movement studies with different reflections on activist knowledge from other disciplines, it will introduce the analytical model of ‘activist expertise’, with the goal of recognizing and analyzing social movement players as epistemic actors. Mostly known for their more manifest actions, activists in fact do much more than simply protest in the street. Particularly, they dedicate relevant efforts to building new or reframing existing knowledge. In spite of its impact in our societies, and of the large literature on it, this activity is still scarcely recognized. To illustrate the argument, the article will build on some paradigmatic examples, and particularly on an instrumental case, focusing on the Lisbon’s right to housing movement. The final goal is to contribute to the understanding of social movements’ consequences in a processual and interactive way, looking at their role in creating knowledge, building expertise and promoting innovation.