Vandráci, buskeri, (neo)nomádi, anarchisti a jeden slovinský squat
Vagabonds, Buskers, (Neo-)Nomads, Anarchists, and One Slovenian Squat

Summary/Abstract: Far from conventional lifestyles anchored in permanence and fixed residence, this study explores the intersections of neo-nomadism, busking, squatting, and anarchist practices through ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Slovenia. Drawing on participant observation, autoethnography, and interviews with travelers, squatters, migrants, and alternative lifestyle practitioners, the author examines how mobility, self-organization, and resistance to hierarchical authority shape contemporary countercultural communities. Particular attention is devoted to the Ljubljana squat PLAC, an autonomous and non-commercial space founded on principles of solidarity, collective decision-making, mutual aid, and participatory organization. The article challenges widespread stereotypes that associate anarchism primarily with disorder, violence, or marginality, instead presenting it as a practical framework for community building and everyday cooperation. By connecting anarchist thought with neo-nomadic lifestyles, van-living, busking, and informal housing practices, the study highlights shared values such as autonomy, anti-authoritarianism, and skepticism toward state institutions. The author also reflects on the experiences of migrants and international visitors who perceive the squat as a space of inclusion, security, and social participation. Through the case of PLAC, the text illustrates how autonomous zones function as laboratories of prefigurative politics, where alternative social relations are actively practiced rather than merely envisioned. Ultimately, the study argues that squats provide a valuable environment for anthropological research while offering insight into emerging forms of community, mobility, and social organization in contemporary Europe.

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