Lucas Poy
@lucaspoy.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Research fellow International Institute of Social History | Labour and social historian | History of labor, socialism, and internationalism | Latin America |
https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/lucas-poy
https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/lucas-poy
Our book Rent Strikes has been downloaded more than a thousand times in only one week!
@uclpress.bsky.social @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social @hannesrolf.bsky.social
@uclpress.bsky.social @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social @hannesrolf.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Our book Rent Strikes has been downloaded more than a thousand times in only one week!
@uclpress.bsky.social @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social @hannesrolf.bsky.social
@uclpress.bsky.social @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social @hannesrolf.bsky.social
In the Global South, housing struggles often take different forms. In the favelas of Brazil, organized workers fought against exploitative “rent seekers”. Their struggle reveals how informal rental markets generate their own forms of intense exploitation.
🧵(9/10)
🧵(9/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In the Global South, housing struggles often take different forms. In the favelas of Brazil, organized workers fought against exploitative “rent seekers”. Their struggle reveals how informal rental markets generate their own forms of intense exploitation.
🧵(9/10)
🧵(9/10)
One of the greatest catalyst for tenant revolt worldwide? Inflation.
It consistently acted as the “spark” that ignited collective tenant actions across borders.
🧵(8/10)
It consistently acted as the “spark” that ignited collective tenant actions across borders.
🧵(8/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
One of the greatest catalyst for tenant revolt worldwide? Inflation.
It consistently acted as the “spark” that ignited collective tenant actions across borders.
🧵(8/10)
It consistently acted as the “spark” that ignited collective tenant actions across borders.
🧵(8/10)
What were tenants fighting for? Historically, demands consistently revolve around: 1) Lower rents; 2) Renovations and maintenance; and 3) Fighting evictions. Tactics include the refusal to pay rent, withholding a portion of it, or channeling unpaid rent towards repairs.
🧵(7/10)
🧵(7/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
What were tenants fighting for? Historically, demands consistently revolve around: 1) Lower rents; 2) Renovations and maintenance; and 3) Fighting evictions. Tactics include the refusal to pay rent, withholding a portion of it, or channeling unpaid rent towards repairs.
🧵(7/10)
🧵(7/10)
Understanding women's role requires different sources. The book employs autobiographical narratives to capture their specific experiences of managing household reproduction amidst activism.
🧵(6/10)
🧵(6/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Understanding women's role requires different sources. The book employs autobiographical narratives to capture their specific experiences of managing household reproduction amidst activism.
🧵(6/10)
🧵(6/10)
Tenant action was fundamentally connected to global politics. In Panama, rent strikes were interwoven with anti-imperialist struggles challenging U.S. domination. In France in the 1970s, immigrant rent strikes drew on the experience of Algerian national liberation.
🧵(5/10)
🧵(5/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Tenant action was fundamentally connected to global politics. In Panama, rent strikes were interwoven with anti-imperialist struggles challenging U.S. domination. In France in the 1970s, immigrant rent strikes drew on the experience of Algerian national liberation.
🧵(5/10)
🧵(5/10)
Another central argument is that women have consistently played a pivotal role in tenant activism, linking struggles over rent to the daily reproduction of the labour force. The role of women is analysed in case studies in New York, Rome, Buenos Aires and others.
🧵(4/10)
🧵(4/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Another central argument is that women have consistently played a pivotal role in tenant activism, linking struggles over rent to the daily reproduction of the labour force. The role of women is analysed in case studies in New York, Rome, Buenos Aires and others.
🧵(4/10)
🧵(4/10)
The volume shows how the language of resistance often centers on E.P. Thompson's concept of “moral economy”. Tenants define certain rental practices as unfair and reject the domination of market laws. They denounce landlords as “profiteers”, “sharks”, or “vultures”
🧵(3/10)
🧵(3/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The volume shows how the language of resistance often centers on E.P. Thompson's concept of “moral economy”. Tenants define certain rental practices as unfair and reject the domination of market laws. They denounce landlords as “profiteers”, “sharks”, or “vultures”
🧵(3/10)
🧵(3/10)
The core conflict analyzed in the book is the enduring contradiction in capitalist urban development: housing as a basic human need (use-value) versus housing as a source of profit and capital accumulation (commodity/exchange-value)
🧵(2/10)
🧵(2/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The core conflict analyzed in the book is the enduring contradiction in capitalist urban development: housing as a basic human need (use-value) versus housing as a source of profit and capital accumulation (commodity/exchange-value)
🧵(2/10)
🧵(2/10)
📢 NEW BOOK ALERT!
The housing crisis is global, but so is the resistance.
A thread to introduce “Rent Strikes”, edited together with @hannesrolf.bsky.social, and published open access by @uclpress.bsky.social and @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social
uclpress.co.uk/book/rent-st...
🧵(1/10)
The housing crisis is global, but so is the resistance.
A thread to introduce “Rent Strikes”, edited together with @hannesrolf.bsky.social, and published open access by @uclpress.bsky.social and @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social
uclpress.co.uk/book/rent-st...
🧵(1/10)
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
📢 NEW BOOK ALERT!
The housing crisis is global, but so is the resistance.
A thread to introduce “Rent Strikes”, edited together with @hannesrolf.bsky.social, and published open access by @uclpress.bsky.social and @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social
uclpress.co.uk/book/rent-st...
🧵(1/10)
The housing crisis is global, but so is the resistance.
A thread to introduce “Rent Strikes”, edited together with @hannesrolf.bsky.social, and published open access by @uclpress.bsky.social and @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social
uclpress.co.uk/book/rent-st...
🧵(1/10)
As tenants worldwide confront neoliberal policies and housing financialization, the struggles of today can learn important lessons from a past full of hope, anger, victories, and defeats.
Hope you download it, read it, and spread the word!
Hope you download it, read it, and spread the word!
November 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
As tenants worldwide confront neoliberal policies and housing financialization, the struggles of today can learn important lessons from a past full of hope, anger, victories, and defeats.
Hope you download it, read it, and spread the word!
Hope you download it, read it, and spread the word!
The book explores the long transnational history of tenant struggles for housing rights.
It includes case studies from the early 20th century to today in the United States, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
It includes case studies from the early 20th century to today in the United States, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
November 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The book explores the long transnational history of tenant struggles for housing rights.
It includes case studies from the early 20th century to today in the United States, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
It includes case studies from the early 20th century to today in the United States, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Een rapport van El Economista spreekt zelfs van 16.322 bedrijven gesloten in 18 maanden – gemiddeld 28 per dag – en 236.000 banen verdwenen. Ironisch dat juist de VVD, altijd bezorgd om “werken moet lonen” en “ondernemers steunen”, dit als voorbeeld ziet.
November 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Een rapport van El Economista spreekt zelfs van 16.322 bedrijven gesloten in 18 maanden – gemiddeld 28 per dag – en 236.000 banen verdwenen. Ironisch dat juist de VVD, altijd bezorgd om “werken moet lonen” en “ondernemers steunen”, dit als voorbeeld ziet.
Volgens Infobae (20/10/2025) verdwenen alleen al in de provincie Buenos Aires 4.479 bedrijven en 88.460 formele banen sinds Milei aantrad. Vooral bouw en industrie kregen zware klappen: –18,7 % en –25.000 jobs per sector
November 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Volgens Infobae (20/10/2025) verdwenen alleen al in de provincie Buenos Aires 4.479 bedrijven en 88.460 formele banen sinds Milei aantrad. Vooral bouw en industrie kregen zware klappen: –18,7 % en –25.000 jobs per sector
Opmerkelijk dat de VVD Argentinië als voorbeeld neemt. Het “kettingzaag”-beleid van Milei leidde tot massale sluitingen van bedrijven, verlies van banen en dalende koopkracht. Niet echt wat je noemt een economie waar “werken loont”. (draadje🧵)
November 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Opmerkelijk dat de VVD Argentinië als voorbeeld neemt. Het “kettingzaag”-beleid van Milei leidde tot massale sluitingen van bedrijven, verlies van banen en dalende koopkracht. Niet echt wat je noemt een economie waar “werken loont”. (draadje🧵)
In elk ander land: “Noodsituatie! Heb je hulp nodig?”
In Nederland: “Heb je wel betaald?”
In Nederland: “Heb je wel betaald?”
May 20, 2025 at 3:36 PM
In elk ander land: “Noodsituatie! Heb je hulp nodig?”
In Nederland: “Heb je wel betaald?”
In Nederland: “Heb je wel betaald?”
Our book has a cover!
Coming next November with the @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social series at @uclpress.bsky.social
Coming next November with the @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social series at @uclpress.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Our book has a cover!
Coming next November with the @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social series at @uclpress.bsky.social
Coming next November with the @iisg-amsterdam.bsky.social series at @uclpress.bsky.social
I’m looking forward to joining a UNICEF symposium in Utrecht next week, where I’ll talk about historical struggles led by children standing up for their rights.
April 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I’m looking forward to joining a UNICEF symposium in Utrecht next week, where I’ll talk about historical struggles led by children standing up for their rights.
“Si tuviera que salvar del fuego una sola de las novelas que he escrito, salvaría ésta”.
RIP Mario Vargas Llosa, gigante de la literatura, gracias por la belleza y la armonía.
RIP Mario Vargas Llosa, gigante de la literatura, gracias por la belleza y la armonía.
April 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
“Si tuviera que salvar del fuego una sola de las novelas que he escrito, salvaría ésta”.
RIP Mario Vargas Llosa, gigante de la literatura, gracias por la belleza y la armonía.
RIP Mario Vargas Llosa, gigante de la literatura, gracias por la belleza y la armonía.
We are on strike today at @vuamsterdam.bsky.social as part of the relay strike actions in Dutch universities against the budget cuts. Picket line at the entrance of the main building!
April 7, 2025 at 7:47 AM
We are on strike today at @vuamsterdam.bsky.social as part of the relay strike actions in Dutch universities against the budget cuts. Picket line at the entrance of the main building!
Historians: hold my beer
February 21, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Historians: hold my beer
Este viernes presento mi investigación en Buenos Aires / This Friday I'm presenting my current research project in Buenos Aires
February 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Este viernes presento mi investigación en Buenos Aires / This Friday I'm presenting my current research project in Buenos Aires
The third issue of our "History at VU Amsterdam newsletter" is out, with updates on our department, publications, upcoming events, and details on the upcoming Bachelor's Day.
Help us reach current and future historians by sharing!
drive.google.com/file/d/1HRcH...
Help us reach current and future historians by sharing!
drive.google.com/file/d/1HRcH...
February 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The third issue of our "History at VU Amsterdam newsletter" is out, with updates on our department, publications, upcoming events, and details on the upcoming Bachelor's Day.
Help us reach current and future historians by sharing!
drive.google.com/file/d/1HRcH...
Help us reach current and future historians by sharing!
drive.google.com/file/d/1HRcH...
There are only two genders: anti-fascist and fascist.
January 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
There are only two genders: anti-fascist and fascist.