Migration and Social Movements

Abstract

Social movement studies have produced a limited amount of research on the issue of asylum seekers’ and migrants’ struggles. In Europe researchers have focused mainly on anti-immigration action, although with significant exceptions. The recent increase of immigration and asylum requests in Europe have favored the development of some works both on pro-migrant activism and on migrants’ and refugees’ agency, but much still needs to be done. How do the currently emerging radical movements resist populist and right-wing backlash as well as repression? How do coalitions between refugees, migrants, institutional actors, NGOs, and activists operate, and what challenges do coalitions face in different national and political contexts? What is the role of gender, and of linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity within self-organized groups, solidarity movements, and volunteer organizations? In asking these and other questions, the panel takes a broad and cross-national comparative perspective on the contentious politics of immigration. Paper givers explore pro-migrants rights protests and anti-racist coalitions involving movements, volunteer organizations and democratic civil society as well as right wing counter mobilization and repression.