Solidarity Networks Research Articles

"Life Is Taking Me Where I Need to Go": Biographical Disruption and New Arrangements in the Lives of Female Family Carers of Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome in Pernambuco, Brazil.

The congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) epidemic in Brazil turned the spotlight on many other factors beyond illness, such as poverty, gender, and inequalities in health care. Women were the emblematic subjects in this study, not only because Zika virus is a vertical transmission disease, but also because women—in Brazil and elsewhere—typically represent the primary carers of children. This is a qualitative analytic study using semi-structured interviews with 23 female family carers of children with CZS in Brazil. Through the concept of biographical disruption, we analysed some of the social impacts experienced by women involved in caring for affected children. We identified that the arrival of a child with disabilities resulted in biographical disruption similar to that experienced by people with chronic illnesses. Social support networks were configured through an alliance between women from different generations, revealing solidarity networks, but also highlighting the absence of the state in tackling these social vulnerabilities. Tracing the pathways of these biographical narratives enables us to understand how women have acted to defend the value of their disabled children in a society structured on the model of body normativity and inequality. These results may provide clues to a more inclusive society, which confronts systems of gender oppression and the sexual division of labour focused on women.

Care in Tarlabaşı amidst heightened inequalities, urban transformation and Coronavirus

Istanbul’s Tarlabaşı neighborhood has been undergoing state-led urban transformation for over a decade, without an end date in sight. Experiencing authoritarianism as a protracted process, Tarlabaşı residents brought to life care as a long-term process in response. Through Tarlabaşı Solidarity Network, a network of care (ihtimam) as they conceptualize it, to navigate uncertainty, maintain community, and hold onto their properties through interpersonal and horizontal relationships. And care, as I show in this piece, has become a buffering response to the eruption of the COVID-19 crises, the effects of which have been exacerbated by authoritarian urban politics already in motion. Repertoires of care present alternatives to uneven impacts of crises, and Tarlabaşı Solidarity Network shows us the important of putting care to work in urban spaces we inhabit.

Los trabajadores de Vía y Obras en los ferrocarriles de la Argentina a comienzos del siglo XX. Condiciones laborales, experiencias y vida cotidiana en el campamento

En la Argentina de comienzos del siglo XX los ferrocarriles ocupaban a un gran número de trabajadores de diversos oficios, calificaciones, edades y nacionalidades que se desempeñaban en los distintos departamentos en que se organizaban las compañías ferroviarias que prestaban servicio. Si bien durante los últimos años ha crecido la cantidad de estudios dedicados al universo laboral de los ferrocarriles, es más lo que se sabe sobre los trabajadores que se desempeñaban en las locomotoras o los talleres que sobre quienes se ganaban la vida trabajando en las estaciones, trenes, puestos de señales, barreras y cuadrillas de caminos. En este artículo el foco está puesto en los denominados trabajadores de “Vía y Obras”, ocupados de la instalación, mantenimiento y reparación de rieles, puentes, señales y otras construcciones ferroviarias. Su objetivo es estudiar tanto las relaciones y condiciones laborales en las vías, como los reclamos, conflictos y redes de solidaridad forjadas por quienes integraban las cuadrillas. Se interesa puntualmente por desentrañar la dinámica del mundo del trabajo en los caminos ferroviarios prestando atención a las formas en que los trabajadores vivenciaron la experiencia de la explotación y la convivencia cotidiana en los campamentos, reconociéndose como parte de un colectivo común.

Graphic Militancies: Posters and Transnational Solidarity between France and Latin America 1970-1980

La presente investigación explora las redes de solidaridad entre Francia y América Latina entre las décadas de 1970 y 1980, cuando esta última sufrió gobiernos dictatoriales. A partir del hallazgo de la colección de carteles de la Biblioteca Pierre Monbeig (iheal, París), este artículo muestra las posibilidades del cartel como fuente para el estudio de estas redes. Desde la historia y los estudios visuales, el cartel revela la extensa constelación de entidades implicadas, desde las altas esferas oficiales, hasta los grupos “desde abajo”. Probamos que París es un laboratorio para cuestionar lo local y lo global, donde la colaboración y la negociación se despliegan por encima de fronteras nacionales. Los carteles revelan las coyunturas, redes y prácticas de la solidaridad, y más allá, permiten indagar en la existencia de una “cultura visual” transnacional.

“We’re Holding our Ground”: Body Politics, Verbal/Non-Verbal Performance, and Dissent Aesthetics in Rafeef Ziadah’s Performance Poetry

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian performance poet and human rights activist who uses the power of the spoken word interfused with stage performance in order to mainstream Palestinians’ experiences of occupation, diaspora, and dispossession as much as the daily struggle for survival, steadfastness, and resistance into American and human pop culture. Performance Poetry, as such, has become a platform for social and political dissent where the poet/performer begins her performance with a Palestinian story at the same time that she instructs her audience to “click, clap, or smile” in order to engage with the Palestinian narrative. The paper weaves together performance studies and body politics in order to examine the interplay between the spoken word and storytelling, on the one hand, as well as facial expressions, voice, movements, and audience engagement as integral to the performed art, on the other. The paper also examines the negotiation between art and politics as well as the aesthetic value of performance poetry and its socio-political implications on the other through different approaches to Aesthetics theory with particular reference to R.G. Collingwood and Marshall McLuhan. Moreover, it explores the social, political, and lived aspects of aesthetics that the performance poet attempts to illuminate by drawing attention to the networks of solidarity within and without the Palestinian community.

The Circulation and Politics of Knowledge Climate Change and Livelihood Struggles in a Coastal Fishing Community

Exploring the role of knowledge circulation in everyday life could provide interesting insights on how different forms of knowledge shapes the lifeworld and subjective realities of people. In the context of everyday livelihood struggles of a coastal fishing community, this paper examines the nature of knowledge circulation at the local level and its micropolitics in wider social arenas. Exploring the nature of local knowledge systems prevalent among small-scale fishworkers, this paper further examines the politics of knowledge, when it circulates from the local social worlds to their solidarity networks. This paper is based on a qualitative study conducted in a coastal fishing village at Munambam situated along the Cochin Estuary in Kerala, India. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase of the study, data was collected through in-depth interviews by using a semi-structured interview schedule. In the second phase, a content analysis of media reports was carried out with an aim to analyse the discourses prevalent among diverse solidarity networks of fishworkers. The findings of this paper show that local knowledge is situated and intersectional. Further, the everyday lives of fishworkers are shaped by different knowledge claims that also signify their everyday struggles to access basic livelihood resources. It is amidst these diverse knowledge claims that one needs to critically examine the narratives of modernisation, climate change and the role of solidarity networks among fishworkers.

The Mortuary Stela of Tetiankh: Family Piety and Social Networkلوحة تيتي-عنخ الجنائزية (العساسيف 2018-1068-1)

Edition of a mortuary stela from the XVIIIth Dynasty discovered in 2018 inside the surrounding walls of Theban Tomb 33. The offering scenes on this monument of outstanding quality depict relatives of the deceased, both close kin and prominent Theban administrative officials, such as the famous Ineni, overseer of the two granaries of Amun. In addition, the commentary aims to show in what way this monument fits into a series of mortuary stelae that showcase intergenerational family piety and social network in a kind of iconogenealogical staging. From this perspective, the study of a dozen monuments from the New Kingdom highlights the patterning of mortuary rituals according to the networks of family and social solidarity.

The future of agroecology in Canada: Embracing the politics of food sovereignty

Agroecology and food sovereignty have gained a significant foothold in the Global South; however, in the Global North, there are significant challenges hindering the adoption of these concepts. Drawing on participants' insights following an Agroecology Field School and Research Summit held in Ontario, Canada in 2018, this paper presents the context for agroecology's potential expansion in this country. We argue that three key dimensions must be addressed in order for the concept to be advanced: 1) Engagement in food system governance; 2) Building networks of solidarity between academics, activists, and food producers/harvesters; and 3) Realization of Indigenous food sovereignty.

Socially Endangered Families in the Solidarity Network

The paper is oriented toward an empirical examination of the characteristics of social networks of socially deprived families. The topic is set within the context of previous sociological studies into this problem, and then observed in a wider milieu of social relations and mapped onto the social reality of socially deprived families in Serbia. The idea is to employ an analysis of the narratives from the respondents’ in-depth interviews from a temporal perspective of the past and present so as to detect the changes in social networks with regard to the altered social context. The previous (socialist) period was determined by the dominant role of the state in the resolution of crucial social problems of families, while the transition (present) is defined by a reduction in the importance of the state and the transfer of this role to the family itself or, partially, to the private sector. At the practical level, the paper will show which types of networks are activated under these changing structural circumstances and what their role is in the lives of socially deprived families. Thus, solidarity networks are understood as an alternative to the withdrawal of the state from the social security system in the neoliberal global concept of the state, now linked to the selective, discriminatory clientelistic practices which emerged over the past thirty years. The findings stem from the analysis of the qualitative material obtained by in-depth interviews of 25 families whose status is characterized by social deprivation. Typologically speaking, it is the case of families receiving social welfare, accompanied by Romani, single-parent, pensioner, and small agricultural families.

Rethinking the Refuge

Abstract The history of the Huguenot Refuge in the Dutch Republic has often been written from a strictly national and confessional perspective, with little attention paid to the connections between French Protestants and other religious communities. In recent years, however, scholars from fields other than religious history have begun to explore the impact of the Huguenot Refuge, while historians of migration have compared the Huguenots to other minorities. Building on these new directions, this special issue seeks to move beyond the traditional boundaries of scholarship on the Dutch Refuge. Focusing on untapped archival sources, the relations between the Huguenots and other religious communities, as well as transnational networks of conflict and solidarity, the articles gathered here propose a more systemic approach towards the Huguenot Refuge in the Dutch Republic.

Brazilian Portrayals of Indigenous Rights in Western Europe during the 1970s and 1980s

AbstractFrom the mid-1960s, Brazilian and European activists collaborated to raise awareness about human rights violations in Brazil, which at the time was under an authoritarian military regime. From reports on torture, to week-long conferences, cultural events, boycotts, petitions and protests, a wide range of activities contributed to the emerging transnational human rights movement. For the most part, activists focused on the themes of political repression, torture, inequality and development. However, at some point during the dictatorship, the discourse of Brazilians—and, by association, of their solidarity networks—began to address the indigenous question, raising indigenous peoples’ struggles as a matter of human rights, as valid as any other, and contributing to their salience within the domains of international human rights organizations and institutions. Given the Brazilian Left’s failures to cohesively mobilize for indigenous rights thus far, this change in discourse is deserving of further attention. In this article, I address the emergence of indigenous rights within the Western European network of solidarity movements comprising resistance to Brazil’s military regime. These debates, as components of the transnational human rights movement of the 1970s, can be used to better understand the behaviour of Brazil’s Left in this international setting, as well as the wider movement itself. Furthermore, it will be shown that indigenous rights were portrayed through the conceptual framework of ‘Latin American Theory’, as opposed to more commonly cited concepts of minority rights or multicultural citizenship.

The Effects of COVID-19 Confinement on the Spanish Family: Adaptation or Change?

Spain is one of the countries that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. As a southern European country, Spain is characterized by high levels of sociability and the vital role of the family in its social structure. The intense confinement phase raised many questions about how the Spanish family would adapt to this crisis. This study analyzes the consequences of confinement on three areas of family life: the emotional state of its members, family relationships inside and outside the home, and the impact of ICTs on families in isolation. Only statistically representative data published by Spain’s main research institutes are used for this study. The results highlight the important adaptive capacity of the Spanish family, the activation of solidarity networks and the improvement in internal and external family relationships. This situation has served to accelerate the development of new technologies in the domestic sphere, with effects on the communicative relationship between its members and to open the debate on teleworking as a tool for reconciliation of work and family life.

Education for Sustainable Development Review

Education for Sustainable Development Review

Cenários especulativos pós-pandêmicos

Apresenta em termos genéricos três cenários econômicos e sociais para o período de pós-pandemia do coronavírus: o velho normal, o novo normal e o anômalo. O método para a construção dos cenários é o da fabulação especulativa. Observa-se que os dois primeiros cenários são variações de um mesmo paradigma e apenas o último pode ser considerado realmente uma “equivocação” do paradigma atual. O cenário anômalo, embora mais “improvável”, se configura o único realista a longo prazo. Nesse cenário estuda-se como o conceito de redes solidárias pode ser potencializado por uma reapropriação das plataformas digitais. Os conceitos de tecnologia social e economia solidária fornecem a melhor descrição de integração para um cenário anômalo. Termina com um esboço de uma proposta eficaz para a renda básica universal.

English as lingua franca. Or the sterilisation of scientific work

This essay discusses the impact of defining English as the lingua franca in academia, taking it as an additional barrier to achieving more equitable participation and a diversity of perspectives in scientific publications in the field of communication studies. Two aspects are particularly problematised. The first is the characterisation of a so-called research that travels, contrasting the ideal model of a strategic definition on what materials should be published on which platform with a scoring and evaluation system that prevents or limits intelligence in these choices. The second aspect is the definition of an acceptable level of eloquence for international circulation, in which the domestication of language leads to an epistemological domination. The debate is illustrated with a series of data regarding the (in)visibility of Latin American scientific production in international academic publications. Such barriers are, finally, presented as mechanisms of power that feed the so-called status of #CommunicationSoWhiteAndRich. The reflection suggests that the search for scientific rigour should not be confused with the rigidity of forms, valuing the construction of solidarity networks that contribute to the decolonisation of scientific thought.

Sosyo-Ekonomik Değişmeyle Başa Çıkmak: Küçük Esnafın Taktikleri

As a result of economic and social transformations, new professions arise, and some established professions diminish or reform themselves. In this context, small shopkeepers based on commercial or arts & crafts activities develop new methods to survive in new settings. In order to explore this phenomenon qualitatively, a neighborhood in the inner city of Istanbul with a rich variety of small businesses was chosen. In-depth interviews and participant observations we re conducted with a limited sample of shops that have survived at least 15 years. They compete against increasing taxes, changing laws and legislations, a growing impact of chain stores and authorized sellers, and changing cooperation and conflict relations with local economic actors. They also try to keep up with changing consumption patterns and expectations of their clients. Small shopkeepers’ efforts to survive we re analyzed referring to the concept of “tactic,” defined by de Certeau as practical solutions created by ordinary individual actors, as opposed to “strategies”, meaning institutional macro regulations. In particular, we re-analyzed three types of tactics developed by small shopkeepers against changing socio-economic conditions: widening the range of products and services within the borders of their professions, providing customer-specific services, and creating informal solidarity networks.

Migrantes LGBT+ en las caravanas centroamericanas hacia Estados Unidos: dilemas y posibilidades para la construcción de redes de hospitalidad

Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el escenario de la migración centroamericana en México y en su paso hacia Estados Unidos, con especial atención en el surgimiento del contingente LGBT+ en las caravanas migrantes en 2018. A partir de un estudio cualitativo, se muestran las causas que originan la emigración de personas LGBT+ en Centroamérica, sus experiencias durante el tránsito migratorio, las reacciones generadas en México con su llegada en caravana y las iniciativas de la sociedad para acompañarles. Derivado de esto, se reflexiona sobre algunos elementos asociados a la hospitalidad, para dar cuenta de la complejidad que subyace a este concepto y repensar las formas de construir las micro redes de solidaridad con esta comunidad desde la sociedad civil.

The social network of solidarity with migrants: The role of perceived injunctive norms on intergroup helping behaviors

AbstractUsing an ego‐centered network approach, we examine across two studies whether and how injunctive network norms—behaviors that are approved by alters—are related to majority members’ decisions to participate in helping actions supporting migrants. We hypothesize that the more people perceive their personal social networks as positive toward humanitarian actions for migrants, the more they consider their opinions on migration issues as self‐defining, and the more they are willing to mobilize in helping behaviors. With a name generator approach, we collected personal social network data among majority members of Belgian, mobilized volunteers (Study 1, N = 204) and Swiss, non‐mobilized participants (Study 2, N = 247). Results demonstrate the impact of injunctive network norms in promoting and maintaining helping actions for migrants, and the role of self‐defining attitudes. Overall, the results highlight the importance of injunctive norms within personal social networks for participation in intergroup helping behaviors.

Towards a History of Mountain Runaways“Migrants” and the Genealogies of Mountain Rescue and Struggles

This paper looks at current migrant crossing on the Alps from the standpoint of a history of runaways. It interrogates the traces left by the recent migrants’ fleeting presence at the Northern French-Italian Alpine border situating these in connection with both the memory of past migrants’ passages and with mountain rescue practices and solidarity networks that have shaped those Alpine valleys. It starts with a section on mobile infrastructures of solidarity deployed at the French-Italian Alpine border, retracing its brief history as well as of the sedimented memory of the struggles in the Susa Valley. The paper moves on with a section about the history of mountain rescue at the French-Alpine border, showing how foreigners and also Italian “clandestine emigrants” were rescued there in the past. It concludes by advancing a history of mountain runaways as an analytical framework to politicise migrants’ passages on the Alps.

The Role of Women in Domestic Solid Waste Management in Adamawa State, Nigeria

This is focused on the analysis of women’s role in domestic waste management in Adamwa State, Nigeria with a view to recognizing their roles as well as incorporating their suggestions in matters relating to waste management in particular and environmental issues in general in order to provide sound knowledge base for effective waste management policy framework in the State. Data was collected from a questionnaire survey sample of 400 women residents in Adamawa State. The study reveals that mothers/wives dominated other members of households mostly involved home based activities that results in waste generation such sweeping, washing/cleaning and cooking as shown in the order of 50.0%, 55.8% and 75.0%. Also, children especially the females with 40.0% dominated other household members on waste disposal, while the male heads with (57.0%) compared to wives with 43.0% are more involved in offsetting the bills for waste disposal. Analysis of women’s activities in the last 6 months shows that majority of the women (65.0%) have changed their ways in order to reduce the amount of household waste generation. Also majority 60.0% and 76.2% have participated in monthly sanitation programme and cleared a refuse site around their houses respectively. The finding is a clear indication that most women are environmentally conscious, hence ready to physically contribute towards ensuring hygienic environment. Organic type of waste dominated with 47.5% on household waste generation, while inorganic waste constitutes 40.0% of waste household waste materials. Majority of an average household in the study area generates between 3kg and 4kg of waste daily. Large percentage of the sampled women (61%) does not sort their waste before disposing. Burying of wastes in landfills pits with 25.8 dominated the preferred waste disposal methods by the women. Vast majority of respondents (55.8%) dump their wastes in non-secured dump sites, whereas about 74.5% preferred to dispose their wastes in secured dump site. Majority of the women (40.8%) indicated low frequency of service as their main concerns from the services of waste management authorities, followed by lack of clean appearance around the bin after collection of wastes by the waste collectors with 23.6%. It is therefore recommended that for there to be an effective waste management programmes and services, women should be strongly involved in solidarity networks, where they seek collective solutions for improving the environment. They should be found at the root of every initiative relating to health care, supply of drinking water or awareness about environmental sanitation in the State in general.