Neglected Properties. Introduction​

Neglected Properties, edited by Alessandro Buono and Emilia Schijman, explores the theme of responsibility for abandoned and ownerless properties in both historical and contemporary contexts. It addresses how economic, environmental, and migratory crises lead to the abandonment of properties, exacerbating local inequalities and contributing to the decline of rural and suburban areas. The work frames abandonment not as a solely economic issue but as a complex social and political problem. The authors analyze how such properties, once neglected, are reintegrated into cycles of rights and responsibilities through community and institutional efforts. This process raises questions about who should take responsibility for maintaining these properties and how to prevent the further impoverishment of local resources. The introduction emphasizes that this issue is not new, referencing historical instances from the 17th century to contemporary times, where abandoned properties became central to legal and social disputes. The focus is not merely on the causes of abandonment but rather on the consequences in terms of reallocating ownership and responsibility. It suggests that neglected properties, far from being valueless, play a crucial role in the political and social organization of communities, creating a need for collective action to manage and restore them.