Neighbourhood organization as a way of addressing vulnerability: a case study of a community mediation programme in Olot, Spain

Abstract

This article explores how neighbourhood organization can address urban vulnerability through a community mediation programme in Olot, Spain. Based on qualitative research, it examines how residents navigate conflict, fragmentation, and segregation. Adopting a critical view, the programme frames cohesion as a dynamic process involving disagreement and collective struggle. Findings show that community mediation can foster everyday relationships, revalue marginalized spaces, and support political participation. However, it also exposes its limits when facing structural inequalities. The article argues that community mediation is not just about dispute resolution but a political practice enabling residents to reclaim agency and build more inclusive neighbourhoods