Intersectionality in Activism and Advocacy in Europe and beyond

Academic attention to activism and advocacy at the intersection of several systems of oppression has increased recently, driven by two key factors. First, activists positioned at the crossroads of multiple marginalities, movements, or political interests have been gradually re-appropriating intersectionality. This re-appropriation has led to the “proliferation and dissemination of intersectionality in activists’ and organisations’ discourses” (Evans and Lépinard 2020: 2) and has enhanced their visibility and participation in European politics. Second, activists, interest organizations, and academics are increasingly recognising and articulating intersectionality as a normative goal and mode of mobilisation (Irvine et al. 2019). This recognition has brought new challenges in conceptualisation and definition, as well as new tensions and confrontations between intersectionality as action-mobilizing collective identity, self-organising and self-representation, and intersectionality as a strategy and repertoire for inclusivity (Evans and Lépinard 2020). Intersectionality is also addressed as a mode of action that contests “the complex inequalities produced by [interlocking] systems of power, through – for example – the formation within social justice movements of co-resistances or coalitions” (Bilge 2019) and builds alternative and more ethical practices of research and knowledge production. When studying intersectionality as a mode of action, more empirical grounding is needed as the primary claims, struggles, and possibilities of contemporary intersectional activisms are context-specific (D’Agostino and Brown 2024). Intersectional mobilizations are indeed highly heterogeneous, with their particular characteristics (e.g., strategies, repertoires, activists’ lived experiences) depending on the historical legacies and the socio-political contexts in which they operate (D’Agostino 2021, 2023). For instance, intersectional feminist groups in Europe have long mobilised and organised themselves politically. European Black-feminist and Afrofeminist political actions have been crucial in the anti-slavery, anti-colonial, and socialist politics on the continent (Emejulu and Sobande 2019). Similarly, Romani feminists have played a key role in bringing the concept of intersectional discrimination to the European political level and in combatting widespread anti-Roma racism. Despite their significance, however, intersectional feminist activisms have often been rendered invisible or marginalized within both European politics and academia. Simultaneously, intersectional advocacy and activism are under pressure. The rise of conservative, extreme, and radical right parties, the proliferation of anti-gender movements, and shifting attitudes toward equality and equity present major challenges to intersectional activism and advocacy. With increasing hostility towards particular minorities at national and international political levels, advocacy and activism not only become more imperative but must also contend with these pressures. Consequently, activists and advocacy groups may refocus their activities (Gerö et al. 2022) or become less politically active altogether (Redert 2024). While existing literature acknowledges and investigates the resistance strategies of activists and advocacy groups, a gap remains in understanding the relationship between hostility and strategies, especially across diverse political landscapes. We are seeking panels that explore the question of intersectionality in activism and advocacy in greater detail. We invite panels on the European context, along with comparative work in other political contexts, such as the Global South. Potential panels: 1) Intersectional Activisms and Radical Resistances – Examining practices and experiences of intersectional mobilization, as well as various forms of resistance and repoliticization of intersectionality, including through art. 2) Intersectional Alliances, Coalitions and Solidarity – Reflecting on intersectionality as an activist tool for building alliances, fostering (transnational) solidarity, and forming strategic coalitions. 3) Intersectional Feminisms in Europe and beyond – Addressing intersectional feminisms from a historical perspective, including their invisibilization within/by mainstream (white) feminism. 4) Intersectionality, Equity and Social Justice – Providing a broader space for debating the potential of intersectionality to advance equity and social justice in politics and policy. 5) Intersectionality in Advocacy, NGOs and Interest Groups – Exploring intersectionality in relation to agenda-setting, strategies, professionalization, and policy influence. 6) Intersectionality Facing Increased Hostility – Addressing the increased hostility towards (trans)national intersectional activisms, and its effects on practices of advocacy. 7) Intersectionality in Research Design and Methodologies – Focusing on how to study activism and advocacy ‘intersectionally’, e.g. through co-creation, participatory action research, and survey research. 8) Intersectionality in Social Movement Research – Reflecting on the needs and potentials of applying intersectionality theory within social movement studies. 9) The Gendering and Whitening of Intersectionality in European Politics – Addressing the challenges of operationalizing intersectionality in contemporary European politics at both EU and national levels. References - Bilge, S. (2019, June 14). Intersectionality, a succinct definition. Available at https://profsirmabilge.medium.com/?p=6a9d3d27ad9d - D'Agostino, S. (2021). (Un)Safe Spaces for Intersectional Activism. Romani Women’s Responses to Transnational Political Opportunities. European Journal of Politics and Gender, 4(2), 217-234. - D'Agostino, S. (2023). Intersectional Feminist Activisms in Europe: Invisibility, Inclusivity and Affirmation. In M. Sawer, L. A. Banaszak, J. True, & J. Kantola (Eds.), Handbook of Feminist Governance (pp. 347-358). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. - D'Agostino, S., & Brown, N. E. (Eds.) (2024). Intersectional (Feminist) Activisms: Global Practices and Experiences. London: Routledge. - Emejulu, A. and Sobande, F. (2019). To Exist is To Resist: Black Feminism in Europe. Pluto Press. - Evans, E., & Lépinard, E. (Eds.) (2020). Intersectionality in Feminist and Queer Movements. London: Routledge. - Gerő, M., Fejős, A., Kerényi, S., & Szikra, D. (2023). From Exclusion to Co-Optation: Political Opportunity Structures and Civil Society Responses in De-Democratising Hungary. Politics and Governance, 11(1), 16–27. - Irvine, J. A., Lang, S., and Montoya, C. (Eds.). (2019). Gendered Mobilization, Intersectional Challenges: Contemporary Social Movements in North America and Europe. London: ECPR Press, Rowman & Littlefield Intl.. - Redert, B. Navigating Hostility: How Political Contexts Affect the Strategies of LGBTQ+ Interest Groups. Interest Groups & Advocacy 13, 96–122 (2024). Please note that panels under this section are primarily scheduled to be held in person. However, there is an option to accommodate virtual panels for participants unable to attend in person. Panel organizers who prefer a virtual format are encouraged to indicate this preference in their panel proposal. For further clarification or additional details, please reach out to the section chairs directly: serena.dagostino@uantwerpen.be and bastiaan.redert@uantwerpen.be.