“Do you hear the buzz? Let’s defend the common good” go the lyrics of the campaign song of ‘Barcelona in Common’, Set to the rhythm of a rumba and sung by activist Ada Colau, who won the election to become Barcelona’s next mayor, it’s the theme song for a new story in politics.

A next generation of activists across Spain are reimagining the promise of radical democracy, drawing from social movements to define a more collaborative style of governance.

Mayo Fuster Morell, who directs the IGOPnet.cc research group on digital commons and Internet politics, offers her up-close insights on the election.