Dr. Milica Kočović De Santo

Dr. Milica Kočović De Santo, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Sciences, participated in the 3rd Participatory Planning Conference (participatory LAB) held in Athens from December 5–7, 2025.

Dr. Kočović De Santo presented the research "Radical Relationality from the Periphery: Water Movements and Liminal Commons in Southeast and Central Europe", co-authored with Lydia Karazarifi...

• Belgrade – defense of the Sava River embankment (hydrotechnical infrastructure/public goods and public spaces), with the emergence of liminal institutionalism
• Topli Do (Serbia) – blockade of small hydropower plant private projects in river defense, with the revival of territorial commons
• Thessaloniki (Greece) – preventing water privatization through referendums and creating a model of direct democracy for water management
• Stagiates (Greece) – popular assembly collectively managing springs, water infrastructure, irrigation, and risk management in mitigating floods
• Odra River (Poland) – campaign for recognition of the river as a legal subject following an ecological catastrophe

From Defense to Creating New Common Practices

The key finding of the research is that in peripheral countries, defensive mobilizations are preceded by systemic weaknesses (ruptural moments)...

About the Conference

• More than 150 presentation posters by researchers, artists, and activists
• Over 100 speakers through various formats (panels, round tables, workshops)
• 13 short films and documentaries within the "Research Dialogues" program
• Exhibition of 35 thesis works from architectural schools in Greece and abroad