International Solidarity Research Articles

Universal Jurisdiction as International Solidarity with Survivors of Atrocity Crimes

Abstract The primary justification for universal jurisdiction (UJ) is its use as a tool to end impunity for certain international crimes. It is also linked to deterrence, as perpetrators of such crimes can face, and have indeed faced, legal action when they travel or reside overseas. Yet, UJ is also the subject of concerns, including the risk of politically motivated prosecutions and the undermining of fair trial rights and legal process. This article contends that the case for UJ can be strengthened, taking as its starting point scholarship that foregrounds the experiences of diaspora communities, rather than the traditional grounding of UJ in abstract appeals to shared humanity. Building on the insights that this earlier work enables us to uncover, this article seeks to reinforce the normative case for UJ by reframing it as international solidarity with survivors of atrocity crimes. First, international solidarity, as a unity of interests in accountability and effective remedies among survivors, other members of the diaspora, states, civil society and international organizations, underlines the connectedness among different actors that play a role in UJ. Secondly, uncovering such connectedness adds to the justifications for UJ the need to rebuild the trust of survivors in the (inter)national criminal justice system by underlining shared interests in access to justice. This is particularly timely in the context of Afghanistan, where survivors are often left without recourse to effective remedies for past and ongoing atrocities. In building the case for UJ from a solidarity perspective, the article incorporates lessons from a project the author is involved in concerning the potential of UJ for holding members of the Taliban accountable for atrocity crimes; a collective effort commissioned by diaspora from Afghanistan. It contributes to this project by strengthening the call for survivors to form a central part of accountability efforts across the world.

National Origins of International Solidarity Movements: Nationalism and International Solidarity for East Timor in Post-Cold War Southeast Asia

Abstract The international solidarity movement for the East Timorese was developed in Southeast Asian nations during the 1990s as ‘the issue of East Timor’ became a primary concern for the ASEAN countries’ civil society. Proponents of liberal democracy have assumed that international solidarity movements for human rights and democracy during the 1990s resulted from the powerful momentum of liberal democracy that universally linked foreign people. However, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri and their marxist followers have explained these transnational movements as a transnational network that overcomes national borders against the capitalist Empire. Nevertheless, the political history of transnational solidarity movements from East Timor to Southeast Asia in the post-Cold War 1990s makes clear that nationalism has continued to be an ideological driver to link people from different nations. Focusing on the international solidarity for the East Timorese independence struggle, this paper demonstrates a transnational function of nationalism through which international solidarity movements are created, resonate and function. The East Timor international solidarity struggle successfully created a transnational platform through the APCET conferences held in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand in the 1990s. Socio-historical analysis of APCET reveals that nationalists in Southeast Asia shared collective memories of national struggles beyond their spaces and times to create a transnational force to support self-determination for the East Timorese. Through its analysis, this article extends the theoretical framework of nationalism that has explained nationalist movements to serve as a more powerful tool to explain international solidarity in the age of globalisation. (247 words)

Reflections on 20 years of the international tennis federation and olympic solidarity high-performance coach education scholarship programme: Implications for sports coach development

This paper reflects on the impact of the International Tennis Federation and Olympic Solidarity High-Performance Coach Education Scholarship Programme over the last 20 years. Coach education and development has been identified as key to the advancement of sport performance. This programme has been investigated using an online survey and followed up with semi-structured interviews, with participants and coach developers. Results from the survey suggested that the programme was well received by the tennis coaches and integral to their ongoing development plus the growth of tennis performance in their countries. Follow-up interviews revealed the three key themes of supportive environment, lifechanging experience and level of challenge contributed to the effectiveness of this programme and the subsequent development of tennis performance. This concludes with some recommendations for coach development programmes.

India’s Vaccine Diplomacy and Global Health Governance: A Soft Power Approach in the Context of Public Policy and Religious Values

Research Problem: India's vaccine diplomacy during the Covid-19 pandemic has not only emerged as a significant tool of soft power but also involves moral and ethical dimensions closely tied to religious values and public policy. In the midst of a global crisis, the interaction between India’s vaccine diplomacy and the religious and public policy frameworks of recipient nations requires deeper exploration. Research purposes: This article aims to analyze the role of India’s vaccine diplomacy in relation to public policy and religious values in recipient countries, examining how India’s global health initiatives influence moral and ethical perceptions of vaccine distribution, fairness, and international solidarity. Research methods: The study employs policy analysis through a comprehensive literature review, focusing on the relationship between vaccine diplomacy, public policy, and responses from religious communities in the recipient countries. It also explores the ethical and spiritual dimensions of India’s health diplomacy approach and its impact on public health policies. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that India’s vaccine diplomacy, through initiatives like "Vaccine Maitri," not only strengthens political ties with neighboring and global countries but also interacts with religious value systems, influencing public acceptance of vaccines. Moral values such as solidarity and justice, integral to many religious traditions, reinforce positive responses to the vaccine initiatives. Additionally, in some nations, religious communities have played a significant role in promoting vaccine acceptance by framing the health response in moral terms. Research Implications and Contributions: This research highlights the importance of integrating religious values into public health policy, particularly in global health contexts. Vaccine diplomacy rooted in moral solidarity and universal ethical principles, aligned with religious values, has the potential to enhance international cooperation and reduce vaccine hesitancy. Thus, this study contributes to understanding how religion and public policy can collaborate effectively in addressing global health challenges.

Solidaridad Intergeneracional y Salud Mental en Educación Superior: Programas Intergeneracionales

This study is a reflexive method practice that pretends to improve the teaching-learning processes through experience and the use of theory. This is how intergenerational programs based on solidarity and dialogue are approached as a support tool for a problem that is evident in the classrooms and that has an impact on the class dynamics, as well as on the academic student's achievement and their mental health. Day after day, significant problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicide in young students are increasing. Therefore, it is proposed a theorical and exploration approach by addressing the axes of reflective practice: professional scenario, personal experience, and reflection, visualizing the viability of intergenerational programs proposed by the authors approaching as critical- reflective prototypes from which there are undoubtedly several actions and lines of research to work, to achieve the validation and creation of this in the future. Taking as a case study the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, where we seek to have a first approach to make a proposal related to intergenerational programs at higher education Institutions. With this theorical approach and multiple readings from international solidarity, dialogue, and existing programs from other parts of the world, the evidence allows us to think that this knowledge's proposal, development, and application enable the teachers to position themselves as an active agent of transformation and formation.

International Humanitarian Assistance for Health: Türkiye’s Health Diplomacy Practices during the Covid-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the health systems of developed countries, leading to a surge in the demand for medical supplies and equipment. This study is dedicated to shedding light on Türkiye's health diplomacy practices and its pivotal role as a facilitator in addressing the escalating global humanitarian and medical aid demand for medical equipment, supplies, medicines, and vaccines due to COVID-19. The study employs the PRISMA systematic analysis method as a data collection protocol to scrutinize Türkiye's international humanitarian and medical assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of health diplomacy practices. The study's findings, which are categorized under four headings: international humanitarian aid based on COVID-19, international medical equipment and supplies, international ventilator aid, and Türkiye's international COVID-19 vaccine aid, reveal that Türkiye has extended a broad spectrum of medical aid and support, including ventilators, vaccines, and medical equipment, to 161 countries across five continents, demonstrating its global reach and impact. Furthermore, as a testament to its “entrepreneurial and humanitarian foreign policy,” Türkiye has underscored regional and international cooperation through its medical and humanitarian endeavors. Türkiye's international humanitarian assistance has gone beyond material aid to encourage dialogue and has been a message of international solidarity for communities. In future research, establishing a connection between Türkiye's regional and international medical assistance and tangible political, social, and economic outcomes will validate the impact and benefits of its humanitarian efforts.

Navigating the Nexus of Bioethics and Geopolitics: Implications for Global Health Security and Scientific Collaboration.

Bioethics plays a pivotal role in guiding ethical decision-making within the realm of medical research and healthcare. However, the influence of geopolitics on bioethical considerations, particularly regarding bioweapons research, remains an underexplored area. This study delves into the uncharted territory of how international political interests can intersect with bioethical principles, potentially shaping collaborative efforts and global health policies related to bioweapons research. Through a hypothetical scenario involving a hypothetical pathogen, a collaborative effort between unspecified countries, we examine the implications of such cooperation on global health governance, with a specific focus on bioweapons research. Ethical dilemmas surrounding responsible research, potential risks and benefits, equitable distribution of findings, and biosafety measures are explored. This analysis underscores the importance of transparent and responsible practices in bioweapons research amidst geopolitical tensions. By striking a balance between national interests and international solidarity, we advocate for robust bioethical frameworks to navigate such collaborations for the collective well-being of humanity and to mitigate potential risks associated with bioweapons research.

Legal regulation of the asylum granting and ensuring of the refugees’ rights in the European Union

The article is devoted to the study of the legal regulation of the asylum granting and ensuring of the refugees’ rights in the European Union. Within the framework of the article, the legal basis of the Common European Asylum System functioning, the creation of which is laid down in the constituent treaties of the European Union, is investigated. In particular, it is determined that the purpose of such a common system is to establish unified standards for determining the criteria for admissibility of applications for asylum or international protection, a similar procedure for considering such applications and the grounds for refusing or suspending the status of a refugee or a person seeking temporary protection, as well as determining the state, responsible for providing asylum, uniform standards for ensuring the rights of refugees, as well as common principles of cooperation between the Member States and partner states that are not members of the Union. The key provisions of the Directive on qualification criteria, on the procedure for granting asylum and international protection, on the conditions of reception and rights of refugees, as well as the Dublin Regulation and the Eurodac Regulation were analyzed. The authors put an emphasis on the fact that because of the full-scale invasion and emergence of the war on the territory of Ukraine, significant changes were made to the process and procedures for granting refugee status and providing asylum within the framework of the legislation of the European Union. The latest Pact on Migration and Asylum was analyzed, especially regarding changes in ensuring border security, quick and effective procedures for considering and obtaining the status of a refugee or a person seeking international protection, solidarity and responsibility among countries that are obliged to provide asylum, as well as strengthening international cooperation in the field of migration. The authors express their support for those concerns regarding alleged violations that may occur after the entry into force of the Pact, in connection with the threat of violations of fundamental human rights. It was concluded that ensuring dignity and respect for human rights is a priority, considering that refugees are recognized as persons who have already suffered violations and were forced to leave their homes.

Chilean Muralism in Exile: On Solidarity and Transnational Memory

Fifty years after the coup d`état in Chile, cities such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Leeds, Milan, Belgrade, Los Angeles, and Chicago, still display traces of Chilean exile on the walls of cultural centres, universities, theatres and other buildings. These are the remains of hundreds of murals, painted by brigades created by Chileans in exile to encourage their host countries to show solidarity with their resistance to the Pinochet dictatorship. The complex experience of Chilean exile and its long-lasting and intergenerational repercussions have only slowly been integrated into research and memory practices. This article examines three case studies of Chilean murals in exile as atypical forms of testimonial sources, with the aim of gaining insights into the multi-layered network of actors behind them, in particular into the testimonies of Chilean exiles and actors of international solidarity. It also explores the memorial dimensions of postephemeral murals and how these can function as carriers of a collective, transnational memory of Chilean exile.

Intellectual lessons from Dr Aleida Guevara (Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara's daughter) and a special meeting with Aleida March (Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara's wife) – Conversations on education, revolution, and socialism of care, Havana, May 2024

On 2 May 2024, a special meeting was arranged with Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara's daughter, Dr Aleida Guevara at their home in Havana which was followed at the end with a greeting from Che's wife Aleida March. The authors (migrant-settler in Canada originally from India and Cuban friend/colleague who had arranged for the visit – both Human Geographers) along with three Brazilian friends (Doctor, Dentist, and Sociologist) were invited. For more than 3 hours, an intense dialogue ensued. We recount three intellectual lessons that emerged during our discussion. Each of the topics addressed by Aleida reflected her stance as an anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist, anti-neocolonialist, and internationalist revolutionary. The discussions included the essential concepts in Che's Marxism, which were integral during the construction process of the Cuban Revolution. Three main themes that emerged included: Cuban Revolution and the socialism of care; challenges facing Cuban socialism today; and the continuing importance of international solidarity. The discussions were interspersed with personal stories, recounts of her father, and humorous anecdotes. Dr Aleida Guevara's tricontinental solidarity work that she shared with us and lessons learned across different historical and geographical contexts in the spirit of her father's intellectual insights towards struggles for freedom provide a theoretical foundation for us to consider today.

Decolonising Solidarity?

While the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état against the government of Salvador Allende in Chile invites to reflect on past and current experiences of solidarity between Latin America and Europe, the present contribution seeks to foreground the rather overlooked international solidarity efforts of and with the indigenous Mapuche. As a result of their forced exile to Europe after 1973, Mapuche activists began to organise themselves as a diasporic community in Europe and to form a transnational advocacy network in support of their people. This contribution aims to showcase how international solidarity of and with the Mapuche in Europe evolved over time, how they relate to non-indigenous, Chilean solidarity networks, and which underlying Mapuche notions of solidarity they reactivate in order to weave their transnational advocacy network.

The Importance of Originality in Scientific Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases Cannot Be Overstated: Through Our Original Ideas and Investigations, We Can Hope to Make Significant Strides in Understanding and Combating these Diseases

The pace of scientific research on neglected tropical diseases, such as Malaria, Leishmaniases, African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis), has been perceived as slow, potentially failing to keep up with the escalating burden on the global human population. While there have been strides in the treatment and partial prevention of some neglected diseases, the alarming global spread of Leishmaniases and Chagas disease is a cause for concern. To contribute to the discourse on these neglected tropical diseases, examining the morbidity and mortality rates, which have now become a pressing global health issue necessitating international solidarity, is crucial.

The Russian War against Ukraine: a case study in climate, conflict, and green recovery

The Russian war against Ukraine, having brought monumental social, economic, and environmental devastation, serves as a compelling case study demonstrating the broader implications of climate crises, underscoring the complex interplay between fossil fuel dependency and geopolitical tensions, and illustrating that the fight for climate justice and the fight for peace are deeply interconnected. Meanwhile, Ukraine has the potential to leverage post-war reconstruction as an unprecedented opportunity for comprehensive decarbonisation and ecological recovery. Examining the limitations of the international climate change regime and exploring controversial aspects of fossil fuel production, this paper highlights the hidden climate costs of war, and investigates the concept of ‘climate change as a battle’ and how it can frame the global discourse on climate security and climate justice. It argues that addressing climate change is akin to fighting a war, requiring mobilisation of resources, political will, and international solidarity. In this context, Ukraine’s experience offers valuable lessons for the global community as it navigates the complex challenges of post-conflict recovery while simultaneously addressing the urgent need for climate action. With the right assistance, Ukraine could emerge as a front-runner in the global energy transition, inspiring other nations to pursue ambitious climate action even in the face of adversity.

A Right to Solidarity. World Ordering from the Margins through International Law?

Abstract In 2005, the United Nations (UN) created the Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity. The mandate holder works toward the establishment and promotion of the human right to solidarity. Usually, a right is regarded as something that people demand, and solidarity is something that people give regardless of legal obligations. Codifying solidarity in international law therefore seems paradoxical. Yet, as we show in this article, the initiative, driven by the G77, stands in a long tradition of attempts to transform the international order into a more just and equitable structure. We highlight its function as a possible means of world ordering from the margins. Through the voting power of a coalition of discontents—against the consistent resistance of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries—in the General Assembly/the Human Rights Council, the mandate holder can use their marginal position in the UN bureaucracy to update discourses about a just international order by altering legal discourses in pursuit of the right to solidarity.

Уголовная ответственность за терроризм по законодательству Словацкой Республики

Today, the international community faces terrorist threats of a level and magnitude unknown in the past. Continuing terrorist attacks are causing significant changes in global security. Terrorists are not afraid to commit the most cruel and most inhumane acts. Recent global events have clearly demonstrated the fact that no country can solve security problems alone, let alone resolve such issues in the long term. All this actualizes the need for international solidarity in the fight against terrorism, for which it is necessary to study the national legislation of individual states in order to develop universal measures of influence, as well as to improve domestic anti-terrorism legislation. The presented article analyzes the current anti-terrorism legislation of the Slovak Republic, the interest in which is due to the fact that this country has common criminal legal views, doctrines, and very similar criminal legislation with the Russian Federation, which over the past decade has been significantly transformed under the influence of rec-ommendations of the European Union, and as well as the new challenges and threats it faced.

Uncanny and Displacement: Forcibly Displaced People Living in the State of Uncanny Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive humanitarian crisis across the globe. In times of emergency response, such as the pandemic, forcibly displaced people are among the most vulnerable groups who often face socio-economic marginalization, and other forms of intersecting oppression and discrimination, such as xenophobia and racism. In refugee camps, they are more susceptible to contracting the virus because of their poor living conditions in overcrowded camps and/or substandard housing, difficulties in adopting social distancing and self-isolation, and lack of adequate public health services. Using predetermined inclusion criteria for the studies, we searched databases, including JSTOR, Social Work Abstract, Social Sciences Abstract, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and PsycINFO, to find relevant literature. We employed a theoretical construct of “uncanny,” often used by postcolonial thinkers, to critically analyze the selected studies. We identified four overarching themes: a) crisis within crises amid the pandemic, b) racism and xenophobia amid the pandemic, c) international solidarity and sharing responsibility, and d)neoliberal global regime and displacement. Our paper concludes with policy recommendations and action plans to be implemented by international communities, governments, and civil society targeting forcibly displaced people to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and future pandemics.

"Grupa B". Współpraca polsko-bułgarska podczas drugiej wojny światowej

The article by Violeta Nacheva discusses Polish-Bulgarian cooperation during World War II, specifically focusing on the activities of Group B, which was part of the Polish section within the Bulgarian resistance movement. The author recounts the history of the Polish diaspora in Bulgaria, starting from the pre-war period when Poles were actively involved in Bulgarian social life. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, the Polish community became key participants in the resistance movement in Bulgaria, and Group B was established as a response to the Nazi occupation. The article examines the relationship between the Polish section and the Bulgarian Communist Party, describing their joint activities and challenges faced in their fight against the Nazis. Nacheva emphasizes the importance of international solidarity in the struggle against tyranny and the role of Poles in the resistance, highlighting the difficulties they had to face amid persecution. The author concludes the article by pointing out the significant impact that Group B had on subsequent Polish-Bulgarian relations and on shaping the historical memory of both nations.

Emotional Resonance in Transnational Digital Climate Activism: Exploring the Perspectives of University Students in Darmstadt

In the face of the profound consequences of climate change, there is an increasing need to explore how emotions transcend borders in the digital realm. It is important to empahasize the central role emotions play in cultivating international solidarity. This study delves into the emotional landscape of transnational digital climate activism, focusing on the perspectives of university students in Darmstadt, Germany. Through a comprehensive survey involving 192 participants, the research seeks to understand the potential of emotional resonance in mobilizing collective action and fostering a profound sense of global interconnectedness. By capturing the thoughts and feelings of students, the study aims to enrich our understanding of the impact of emotional resonance in this context, offering valuable insights and practical recommendations for effectively harnessing its power in driving sustainable environmental transformation.

Anti-Palestinian racism and the criminalisation of international solidarity in Europe

In this polemic against state policies and sections of the mainstream media in France, Germany, Italy and the UK since 7 October 2023 in relation to Israel/Palestine, the author exposes the ways in which a concerted anti-Palestinian racism interacts with civilisational racism and the criminalisation of international solidarity. The piece, based on speeches and briefings by the author in 2023–24, foregrounds the attack on the Palestinian diaspora in Europe. It focuses on the way a moral panic around shows of solidarity with Palestine have been fomented; the suppression of the works of artists, academics and public figures, including prominent Jewish anti-Zionists, who question official narratives; the equation of solidarity with terrorism and antisemitism and hence a reframing of what constitutes ‘hate crimes’; and the restrictions on the right to protest.

Indigenous Internationalism and the Art of Recognition: A Soviet Trace on a Global Stage

ABSTRACT This article explores the contributions of Soviet writers to global discourses of Indigenous rights. The author focuses on the work of three writers, Yeremei Aipin (Khanty, b. 1948), Vladimir Sangi (Nivkh, b. 1935), and Yury Vella (Nenets, 1948–2013), as they entered into transnational Indigenous movements and navigated a rapidly changing political landscape in the final years of the Soviet Union. The author argues that they engaged in a complex “art of recognition,” working across genres and modalities in order to reckon with legacies of colonialism and usher in new visions of identity and political sovereignty. This approach highlights the Soviet Union as a locus for international congresses and solidarity movements, such as the Nevada-Semipalatinsk Antinuclear Movement, the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders, and the 1990 Sacred Run for Land and Life, led by American Indian Movement cofounder Dennis Banks. Ultimately, an Indigenous-centered approach to the end of the Cold War provides a counterbalance to prevailing narratives of this era, which cast the ascendance of a Western-dominated capitalist world order as an inevitable conclusion.