Activism and volunteering are emotional matters. On the basis of episodic interviews with people who support refugees in Germany, the presentation reconstructs the emotions that go hand in hand with voluntary action and activism. Both connecting and separating emotional states and dynamics are expressed. These are directed both inwards and outwards. The lecture discusses the hypothesis that how these emotions are dealt with is crucial for the further course of engagement.
This online lecture is part of the EuMIGS Lecture Series 2022 on migration policy and refugee reception in the (trans-) local context.
Helen Schwenken is Professor of migration and society at the University of Osnabrück.