Social Science College: Prefigurative Practices of Solidarity Construction

Whereas “everyday politics” once constituted only a minor element of the repertoire of social movements, it now appears—within the current sociopolitical constellation—as a central modality of political action.
This collegium therefore not only engaged theoretically with the concept of prefigurative politics as practiced in modern social movements; it also explored and implemented various approaches to prefigurative research praxis. This included experimenting with horizontal methods drawn from critical pedagogy as well as trying out transformative self-experiments. Participants were given the opportunity to develop skills in academic video-clipping, storytelling, and blog writing.

The focus of the research was prefigurative practices of political action in contemporary social movements and solidarity-based initiatives. Processes in which alternative or utopian social relations, forms of solidarity, democracy, and collective self-organization are already tested and enacted in the here and now were examined. These included, for example, occupations of public spaces, self-managed projects, solidarity practices with marginalized groups, as well as everyday forms of political action. The emphasis was on social dynamics, emancipatory potentials, internal tensions, and contributions to societal change.

While prefigurative politics have often been treated as a marginal element of social movements, this project examined it as a central configuration of contemporary political action. It addressed the hitherto insufficiently researched significance of the “politics of the everyday” as an independent political strategy beyond traditional forms of protest. By analyzing concrete practices (e.g., occupations of public spaces, self-managed projects, solidarity initiatives), the project filled gaps in the microsociological study of solidarity constructions.

The project combined research and practice, thereby bridging a gap between analytical social movement studies and transformative knowledge production.

The project developed and tested prefigurative research practices (horizontal learning, self-experiments, creative formats) that have so far been scarcely reflected upon systematically in social movement research.

The participants of the program developed an in-depth understanding of prefigurative practices, social movements, and alternative forms of political participation. They gained practical experience through self-experiments, collaborative learning formats, storytelling, and academic video-clippings. In the process, they strengthened their ability to critically reflect on tensions, exclusions, and ambivalences within social movements. Working in self-organized learning processes fostered teamwork, communication, and participatory collaboration. At the same time, participants experienced personal growth, self-efficacy, and critical thinking. Finally, they expanded their social awareness, empathy, and solidarity in engagement with marginalized groups.

Promotion of prefigurative practices: Initiatives and organizations should create spaces in which alternative forms of solidarity, democracy, and self-organization can be tested, for example through self-managed projects, participatory decision-making processes, or horizontal learning formats.

Integration into education and training: Elements of prefigurative practice—such as collaborative work, storytelling, co-creation, or transformative learning—should be incorporated into the education and professional training of social work practitioners, civil society organizations, and political education programs.

“Prefigurative politics” is a concept that anticipates a world of horizontal social justice through practice. It refers to the attempted construction of alternative or utopian social relations and forms of solidarity in the here and now. Prefigurative action plays an important role in current debates on political participation, civic engagement, and the activities of contemporary social movements. In social movement research, the concept has been applied, among other things, to the occupations of public squares (e.g., in Egypt, Spain, and the United States), understood as a political strategy of anti-capitalist and self-managed projects, or as an instrument for generating solidarity.