The Politics of Research as Praxis: Theory and Action in the Study of Real Estate Development in Romania

Based on the view that praxis evolves in the dialectical relationship between theory and action, the article contributes to a Marxist understanding of knowledge production and its adaptation in the field of urban studies. It elaborates on our insight into the politics of research as praxis by focusing on its main precepts: 1) knowledge production as a social process, i.e., how is it created within a network of social relations that evolves to pursue action (for housing justice in this case); 2) the embeddedness of researchers in the material realities they address, taking a critical standpoint to the ruling classes and increasing consciousness about the fact that action (eg. for housing justice) should be part of revolutionary struggles targeting the capitalist political economy regime as a whole; and 3) how researching real estate development, as a core element in the Post-Fordist accumulation regime and a vehicle of reurbanization that uses urban space for profit-making, answers the need of housing justice activism for extended knowledge that can underpin more radical transformative actions.