Illustrating new resistance strategies and mobilisations, this volume examines how EU citizens and refugee populations in Germany have opposed asylum policies and coped with hostile migration regimes. Taking as her starting point occupations of a Berlin square in 2012, the author weaves an auto-ethnographic account of her own involvement in solidarity and refugee resistance groups with archival examinations of various strategies. The book analyzes how activism is sustained in multiple ways: media solidarity groups challenge mainstream depictions; radio shows attempt to decolonize the media and resist the category of ‘refugee’; a group of women comprised of migrants and asylum-seekers publish their accounts; solidarity groups help migrants to find temporary housing; campaigns align with existing groups or engage with political conversations more broadly to challenge populism, racism, and anti-migrant sentiment. As she bridges practical solidarity, media activism, and other strategies, Fazila Bhimji builds a framework to show how these tactics interrelate, interrogating specifically if the fragmentation of strategies limits anti-racist struggles, or whether providing manifold outlets for a collective struggle helps to build solidarity.
Author(s): Fazila Bhimji
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 254
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
Chapter 1: Introduction
Aims of the Book
Contentious Politics, Solidarity, and Humanitarianism
Refugee Activism
Solidarity Work
Volunteer Work in Germany
Humanitarian Work
Coming to Berlin and Doing Ethnography
Organisation of the Book
References
Chapter 2: The Everyday Racialisation of Refugees in German State and Society
Introduction
Institutional and Everyday Racism at Refugee Camps and Reception Centres in Germany
Camps, State Power, and Institutional Racism
Racialisation and Racist Violence
Migration and Populist Racist Mobilisation
Living with Deportability and Detainability
Anti-Immigrant Anxieties in the Political Arena and German Society
Concluding Comments
References
Chapter 3: Heterogeneity and the Dynamics of Tent Protests and Squatting: The Refugee Movement at Oranienplatz
The Refugee Movement 2012–2014
Oranienplatz as a Site of Anti-Racist Protests
Heterogeneous Struggles at Oranienplatz
Diversity of Demands by Refugee Groups
The Formation of Media Activists, Solidarity, and Cultural Groups
References
Chapter 4: Practical Solidarity, Encounters, and Transformative Possibilities: A Case Study
Introduction
SPO: Anti-racist Politics Versus Charity
Political Networking
Working Structure of Schlafplatzorga
Networking with Solidarians
Hospitality and Hosting Refugees
Contact Persons and Refugees
Solidarity Events and Sociality
Solidarity Parties
The Techno Festival
Solidarity at Demonstrations
The Küfas
Concluding Comments
References
Chapter 5: Intersectional Feminist Solidarity and Activism amongst Refugees and Migrants at International Women’s Space in Berlin
Introduction
The Political Culture of IWS
Funding Matters and IWS
IWS and Meeting Spaces
The Women at IWS
Meetings at IWS
Lawyer’s Workshops at IWS
‘Giving Voice’ and Narratives of Intersectional Experiences
Book Launches and Networking
The Conference as a Collective Gathering
IWS and Advocacy for a Roma Woman
Roma Woman Is Suing Racist Attacker
Street Protests, Speeches, and Alliances
Concluding Comments
References
Chapter 6: There Is Empowerment in the Air: Media Activists Decolonise the Radio
Introduction
Participating on the Radio
The Beginning of Wearebornfree Empowerment Radio Project
Emancipation, Decoloniality, and Humanity on the Radio
Wearebornfree Empowerment Radio and Sovereignty
We!R Radio’s Shows
The Format, Content, and Scheduling
The Radio’s Intended Audience
Greetings from the Radio
Music on Wearebornfree Radio
Mediating Rastafari Culture and Resisting the Babylon System on the Radio
The Polizei, Deportations, and Anti-Racist Activism
Africa and Transnational Solidarity
Expressions of Solidarity on International Women’s Day
Encounters with Artists, Alliance Building, and Working with the ‘Left’
Concluding Comments
References
Chapter 7: Conclusion: Reconsidering Refugee Activism and Solidarity
Political Ideologies and Activism and Solidarity
Solidarity and Activism as Extensions of Refugee Protests
Political Activism, Practical Solidarity, and Humanity
Impact of Refugee Mobilisation and Solidarity Work
References
Index
