Discussant: (In)equality of Human Solidarity in Times of Crisis and W...

The war in Ukraine is yet another cruel reminder for societies in Europe and the world to reflect the role of political and civic solidarity in times of crisis and war. Drawing on earlier events and developments of forced-migration and its impact on global and local refugee solidarity, some even speak of a déjà vu. However, we can also observe differences and variations in the way, how public discourse, local solidarity initiatives, and European migration politics “re-act” now – also in resonance to omissions of fair conditions of global migration.

Despite the obvious urgent need for instant action to support fleeing people in and from the Ukraine, there are also warnings of forms of racialized solidarity (Hooker 2009) at the borders and even within civic engagement. Can really all people who currently suffer from wars, crisis and threat expect to receive shelter and protection? The panel raises fundamental questions how to reflect risks of potential inequalities of (global) human solidarity, avoiding hierarchies of preferential regions, origins or ethnic groups.