Abstract:
This thesis focused on the socio-political struggles that take place in Valencia, Spain, during the
current aftermath of the economic crisis that started in 2008. The impact of the economic crisis
has been extremely arduous, it caused many Valencian citizens their savings, their job or even
their house. The response of the national government and the local city council by means of a
harsh package of austerity measures as well and the coinciding unrevealing of numerous
corruption scandals and the lack of justice after a major metro accident added to the discontent
of the population. A result of this discontent has been the flourishing of neighbourhood
movements and a struggle for socio-political justice. Until now the analysis of the societal struggles in Valencia has focused on general cultural and political changes in the aftermath of the crisis. This research added to these studies by taking an unconventional research perspective on the socio-political impact caused by the economic crisis. Additionally it deepened the insight in the changing socio-political landscape in general and citizenship in specific - understood as the ongoing emancipatory struggle around the right to have rights - during the aftermath of the economic crisis through theatrical discourse analysis - analysing theatre plays, theatre performances and interviews with playwrights.
