European Areas of Solidarity (EASY)

The international research project European Areas of Solidarity (EASY) deals with solidarity citiy alliances in Europe with a special focus on the flagship Züri City Card project in Switzerland. On the one hand, this multi-perspectival project analyzes the needs of sans-papiers and people with an irregular residence status and their ideas of a solidarity city; on the other hand, it examines strategies and concepts of solidarity city alliances. It pursues a qualitative-empirical approach with participatory elements together with international partners from practice.

Funding: Gerda Henkel Stiftung - Special Programme Forced Migration

Project period: 01/03/2024 - 28/02/2026

Background

Since the “long summer of migration” in 2015 at the latest, we have been experiencing extremely ambivalent social dynamics of solidarization and desolidarization in Europe: Solidarity and engagement with forced migrants clashes with racism, right-wing extremism, anti-Muslim racism and anti-Semitism, which has led to a shift from a proclaimed “welcoming culture” to an intensifying European policy of closure. In view of this situation, concepts and practices of solidarity cities are gaining in importance. The idea of “solidarity cities” is based on the concept of sanctuary cities in North America, sharing the common belief that all city residents should be recognized as equal citizens, regardless of their residence status and other dimensions of diversity, enabling them to participate fully. These cities and municipalities employ a variety of strategies, such as city ID cards, which enable all residents to identify themselves to local authorities and access societal resources, whether or not they have a residence permit. On the European continent, the city of Zurich in particular can be categorised as a flagship project: Initiated by the involvement of solidary alliances, the Zurich City Council decided in October 2018 to introduce a city card based on the North American model - the Züri City Card. Holders of the card should be able to identify themselves with the Zuri City Card, take advantage of cultural opportunities and access city services and health care. The City Council's decision was followed by a debate lasting several years and a referendum in May 2022, in which the majority of Zurich’s residents supported the card, thus initiating the implementation process. The research project starts at this pivotal point.

Research questions

• What concepts and strategies for solidarity cities can be found in Europe, with special regard to the city of Zurich?
• What needs do sans-papiers and people with an irregular residence status articulate, and what starting points and wishes do they propose for the conceptual implementation of solidarity cities?
• What social work linkages are evident in the conceptualisation and implementation of urban solidarity concepts? 

Project objectives

• Expanding the state of research on solidarity cities in Europe, based on the flagship project in Zurich
• Bringing together people with irregular residence status, partners from practice and science in a participatory approach
• Participatory development of an open access brochure together with partners from the D-A-CH region with conceptual ideas as well as examples of implementation and visions for urban solidarity practice
• Contribution to an inclusive, solidary Europe in a time of intensifying social division

Theoretical framework

Urban citizenship, inclusion and exclusion, post-migrant perspectives, solidarity, urban sociology, popular social work, critical social work

Are you interested in the project and would like to cooperate with us or network in some other way? Please send us a message to: caroline.schmitt(at)fb4.fra-uas.remove-this.de and marc.hill(at)uibk.ac.remove-this.at

Would you like to share your own involvement in the implementation of urban solidarity concepts or give us your views on urban solidarity concepts? Please contact us: songuel.can(at)student.uibk.ac.remove-this.at  andjohanna.hofmann(at)fb4.fra-uas.remove-this.de

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