Contested Solidarity

Polarised positions over the issue of migration became vocal in the German public sphere as the ‘long summer of migration’ in 2015 unfolded. These positions are mirrored in both ‘solidarity cities’ with inclusive practices of migrant reception and ‘anti-solidarity cities’ with a dominance of anti-migrant sentiment and mobilisation. In this chapter, we unpack these ambivalent dynamics by analysing migration-related protests between 2014 and 2018 in two medium-sized towns in East Germany, Neuruppin and Plauen. Based on a combination of quantitative protest event data and qualitative interviews, we explain why Neuruppin has evolved as a ‘solidarity city’ with high levels of pro-migrant protest, while in Plauen, anti-migrant actors have dominated the streets. Investigating the contentious and contingent nature of migrant solidarity from a comparative perspective and focusing on medium-sized towns, this chapter complements the widespread focus on single case studies of ‘solidarity cities’ in large urban centres.

doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-95151-0_7 ISBN: 978-3-031-95151-0 Open Access