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The voluntary initiatives in support of migrants in times of crisis: mutual aid, self-mobilization and cross-sectional solidarity

Wed, July 17, 2:00 to 3:30pm, TBA

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

The last ten years have been marked by a series of significant crises, notably in Europe, including the 'refugee crisis' of 2015, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukrainian refugee crisis of 2022. These crises, as extraordinary events, have prompted exceptional responses, revitalizing and transforming the field of volunteerism. According to Solnit (2009), crises frequently catalyze collective civil action aimed at addressing societal issues. These events have spurred a variety of solidarity actions, protests, mutual aid efforts, self-mobilization, and self-organization. Concerned citizens have stepped forward to provide welfare support that formal organizations and institutions were either unable or unwilling to offer. Individuals, often involved with local volunteer groups, faith communities, food banks, and soup kitchens, have rapidly mobilized to deliver both material and emotional support to those in need (Karakayali, 2018; Matthewman & Huppatz, 2020; Bolzoni et al., 2023). Furthermore, these crises have mobilized people to support not only their own communities but also the most vulnerable groups.
In all these crises, migrants have been disproportionately affected. This is evident not only during the refugee crises but also during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted migrants, leading to higher unemployment rates among them compared to native residents (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020; Fortuna et al., 2020; Kynsilehto, 2020; Quaranta, Trentini & Vollosio, 2020). Moreover, refugees have faced entry restrictions, labor market exclusions, both explicit and implicit, and new deportation policies (Libal et al., 2021).
Despite these challenges, civil society groups have emerged to support vulnerable migrant populations, offering assistance through activities such as organizing donation drives, distributing meals, and hosting refugees, while also advocating for their rights (Karakayali, 2018; della Porta & Steinhilper, 2020). Migrant groups themselves have participated in these initiatives, using them as platforms to challenge immigration policies (Galam, 2020; Gatti, 2022).
This session aims to explore the role of volunteerism in supporting migrants during recent crises. We welcome contributions that analyze voluntary initiatives supporting migrants, undertaken by both native and immigrant actors within the context of these crises. We are also interested in studies that examine the actions of immigrants towards the host society and instances of cross-sectional solidarity. This call for papers invites specific case studies as well as broader research studies and reflections. Topics of interest include the initiatives of native actors towards the immigrant population, immigrants' activities in support of fellow immigrants and the general population, actions that unite migrants and native citizens, how solidarity initiatives have challenged and transformed traditional notions of citizenship, and how voluntary initiatives supporting immigrants intersect with advocacy activities and political strategies of civil society groups.

References

Bauomy, J. (2020). COVID-19 and xenophobia: Why outbreaks are often accompanied by racism. Euronews.
Black, J. M., Chattopadhyay, S., & Chisholm, R. (2020). Solidarity in times of social distancing: migrants, mutual aid, and COVID-19. Interface, May, 1–12.
Campbell, L. (2020, February 9). Chinese in UK report ‘shocking’ levels of racism after Coronavirus outbreak. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/09/chinese-in-uk-report-shocking-levels-of-racism-after-coronavirus-outbreak
Clissold, E., Nylander, D., Watson, C., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). Pandemics and prejudice. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(5), 421–423.
Falicov, C., Niño, A., & D'Urso, S. (2020). Expanding Possibilities: Flexibility and Solidarity with Under‐resourced Immigrant Families During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Family process, 59(3), 865-882.
Fortuna, L. R., Tolou-Shams, M., Robles-Ramamurthy, B., & Porche, M. V. (2020). Inequity and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on communities of color in the United States: The need for a trauma-informed social justice response. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Galam, R. (2020). Care and solidarity in the time of covid-19 pandemic experiences of Filipinos in the UK. Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints, 68(3–4), 443–466.
Gatti, R. (2022). Cittadinanza dal basso e solidarietà inclusiva. Mondi Migranti, 1(2020), 1–16.
Kuo, L., & Davidson, H. (2020, March 29) ‘They see my blue yes then jump back’ – China sees a new wave of xenophobia. The Guardian.
Kynsilehto, A. (2020). Doing migrant solidarity at the time of Covid-19. Interface: A Journal for and about Social Movements, 12(1), 194–198.
Libal, K., Harding, S., Popescu, M., Berthold, S. M., & Felten, G. (2021). Human Rights of Forced Migrants During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Opportunity for Mobilization and Solidarity. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 6(2), 148–160
Matthewman, S. & Huppatz, K. (2020) A sociology of Covid- 19. Journal of Sociology, 56(4), 675– 683.
Quaranta, R., Trentini, F., & Villosio, C. (2020). Gli effetti del COVID-19 sulla popolazione in età da lavoro straniera in Italia. Mondi Migranti, 21(1), 1–9.

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