About
TRUST WITHOUT BORDERS IS A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT CONDUCTED BY EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES’ SCHOOL OF TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZING AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SIEGEN’S RESEARCH UNIT FOR COMPARATIVE CULTURAL SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY OF EUROPE (PROF. DR. CHRISTIAN LAHUSEN). WE AIM TO DETERMINE THE STATUS QUO OF TRANSNATIONAL TRUST AND TO EXAMINE PATHWAYS TOWARDS A FUTURE EUROPE OF SOLIDARITY BY INVOLVING EVERYDAY CITIZENS AS WELL AS ACTIVISTS FROM DIVERSE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES.
As crises have become the norm in Europe since the financial crisis of 2007/2008, we see a dangerous rise in racism, anti-feminism, violence against LGBTQI* communities, human rights violations at the EU’s external borders, and a new war led by Russian president Putin on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. The climate crisis is still unresolved and, last but not least, a Europe-wide solidarity-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the following cost-of-living crisis are still missing – all symptoms of a deeper crisis of socio-economic inequality in the EU, democratic deficits of its institutions, and a lack of trust...
But how do citizens and activists view the state of trust and solidarity in Europe? How do citizens and activists already organize solidarity across borders, create a European culture of trust, and thus build the foundations for a Europe of democracy beyond the nation-state? From 2020 to 2023, European Alternatives, together with the Department of Political Sociology of Europe at the University of Siegen, will investigate what the real state of transnational trust and distrust in each other, in other member states, and in EU institutions is. The focus is on people's cross-border experiences and connections that we want to discuss in interviews, focus group workshops and public events in Germany, Italy, and Poland.
In line with European Alternatives’ mission we focus on the needs and claims of civil society actors and activists to expand their transnational networks, strengthen collective action and knowledge across borders, and promote policy changes in the EU. A final conference in Berlin in November 2023, a joint research report and this project web documentation provide an opportunity for the public, civil society and other academics to learn from our research.
Partners
European Alternatives is a transnational non-profit organisation founded in 2007 by young people from around the world – imagining, demanding, and enacting democracy, equality, and culture beyond the nation state. Operating from our local hubs in Berlin, Paris, and Palermo, we are dedicated to the democratic and solidary transformation of our political institutions, our economic system, and our civil societies that many people in Europe and around the world are striving for. Otherwise, we will not be able to truly understand and address the most urgent political, cultural, and social issues that Europe is facing in our time. As a transnational team together with our progressive community of transnationalists from activism, trade unions, academia, education, and the arts, we act in the belief that only when people have democratic ownership over their lives and futures do they feel safe and free to care for themselves and others as they would like to.
European Alternatives' Berlin Hub is running the »School of Transnational Organizing«. A grassroots school where everyday people, social movement builders, trade union organizers, migrant workers, climate justice activists, community artists as well as marginalized communities meet to learn the tools and skills to master the lost art of organizing solidarity and together shape the landscape of what we think is possible. We create brave spaces involving different people: allowing us to overcome the deep sense of powerlessness many of us share and enabling people "to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want" (Marshall Ganz). With a wide community of trainers, facilitators, and educators, we inspire, train, and support new popular pioneers, organisations, and movements to lead more hopeful, more joyful, and more powerful struggles in their countries, cities, and communities.
In this project, we especially seek to explore not only transnational solidarity and trust between activists, but also the problems and potentials arising from the transnational biographies of migrant activists in terms of trust and solidarity, intersectionality and transversality in a multiplicity of different political fields and struggles.
The University of Siegen was founded in 1972 and has quickly developed into a centre of quality research and teaching in the ‘three-border-region’ of the Hessen, Rhineland Palatine and North Rhine Westphalia states. Research work on »Trust Without Borders« is conducted at the Department of Social Sciences at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The Department of Social Sciences is characterised by its interdisciplinary focus, its combination of fundamental and applied research, and the study of macro and micro constellations.
The chair of Comparative Cultural Sociology and Political Sociology of Europe at the University of Siegen held by Christian Lahusen is the hub for numerous research projects on the sociology of European societies and European integration, social movements and civil societies, social problems and social exclusion, the sociology of bureaucracy and on the transformation of the state. Christian Lahusen's research has been funded by the German Research Council, the EU and other national and international funding agencies. He was coordinator and investigator of the related EU-funded projects TransSOL (H2020) and EnTrust (H2020) as well as a participant in other EU-funded projects such as UNEMPOL (EU FP5), YOUNEX (EU FP7) and LIVEWHAT (EU FP7). Currently, he is part of the EURYKA project (H2020).
The Siegen team focuses on the prevalence and conditioning factors of transnational social trust in Europe. Moreover, the research conducted inquires the relationship between social trust (interpersonal) and political trust in other EU member states as well as EU institutions. Through the means of thematic interviews and focus groups in Germany, Italy, and Poland cultural and political factors across the three countries will be compared. Based on this, the team develops policy recommendations and analyses for a broad audience, including the scientific community, policy-makers, and civil society.
Team
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Workshops & Events
Learn more about our various workshops and events we organised in Cologne and Berlin (Germany), Palermo and Rome (Italy), as well as Warsaw and Gdansk (Poland).
BERLIN CONFERENCE: »Moving at the Speed of Trust« – Transnational Winter Academy 2023
17.-19.11.2023, Startbahn Berlin
GDANSK WORKSHOP: »How Feminist & Care Activists Organize Trust & Solidarity Beyond the Divisions & Borders of Communities, Struggles & Nations«
18.03.2023, 17:00–20:00, European Solidarity Centre
ROME WORKSHOP: »How Antifascist & Autonomous Activists Organize Trust & Solidarity Beyond the Divisions & Borders of Communities, Struggles & Nations«
08.09.2022, 11:00–13:30, ESC Atelier Autogestito
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ROME FORUM: »The Struggle Continues Together«
08.09.2022, 17:00–19:00, La Pelanda - Mattatoio di Roma
BERLIN CONFERENCE: »Moving at the Speed of Trust« – Transnational Winter Academy 2023
17.-19.11.2023, Startbahn Berlin
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PALERMO ASSEMBLY: »Avoiding Climate Catastrophe« – Transnational Assembly of Ecological Solidarity
23.10.2021, 10:00–17:30, Santa Maria dello Spasimo
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BERLIN FORUM: »What Is To Be Done«
25.03.2023, 17:00–22:00, betahaus Berlin
Videos
Watch our videos showing livestreams of our public events in Germany, Italy and Poland,
as well as interviews with activists, artists, and academics we met on the road.
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Christian Lahusen
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Tania Mattos
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Duygu Kaya
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Sujin Julia Noël
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Antonia Faustini
»Moving at the Speed of Trust« Winter Academy 2023 Berlin – Interview with Zandile Amy Ngono
Transeuropa Festival Cluj-Napoca 2023: »Holding Spaces« – Documentary
Transnational Assembly of Feminist Solidarity Gdansk: Ophélie Masson in Conversation with Georg Blokus
Transnational Assembly of Feminist Solidarity Gdansk: Ophélie Masson in Conversation with Niccolò Milanese
Transnational Assembly of Feminist Solidarity Gdansk: Ophélie Masson in Conversation with Virginia Fiume
Transnational Assembly of Feminist Solidarity Gdansk: Ophélie Masson in Conversation with Lidka Makowska
Transnational Assembly of Feminist Solidarity Gdansk: »Equal Rights for All Women*: No Matter Where We Come From or Go To« – Livestream
Warsaw Biennale 2022 – Trailer
Interview with Lidka Makowska – »Trust Without Borders«
Interview with Lissa Bulu - »Trust Without Borders«
Short Theatre Festival Rome 2022: »Vibrant Matter!« – Trailer
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Short Talk by Fruzsina & Veronika (ADOM Student Movement, Hungary)
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Short Talk by Patricia & Bana (Deutsche Wohnen & Co. Enteignen, Germany)
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Short Talk by Piotr & Geese Goose (Occupy EUR: End Fossil!, Netherlands)
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Short Talk by Sanaz & Elaheh (women* life freedom collective Berlin, Germany)
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Short Talk by Antonia & Domenico (Associazione Luca Coscioni, Italy)
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II« Berlin/Brandenburg – Opening Speech by Georg Blokus
Youth Movement & Campaign Accelerator: Bootcamp II Berlin/Brandenburg – Trailer
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Zeynep Karlıdağ
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Vincent Bababoutilabo
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Tarek Shukrallah
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Nam Duy Nguyen
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Leonor Canadas
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Daniel Gutiérrez
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Camilo Alvarez
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Berena Yogarajah
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Antje Scharenberg
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Anna Krenz
Academy of Migrant Organizing Community Conference Berlin: »The Struggle Is Real« – A Video Portrait of… Ali Khademolhosseini
Interview with Ronnie Tito Thomas – »Trust Without Borders«
School of Resistance Cologne: »Human Rights are #Nonnegotiable« – Livestream
School of Resistance Cologne: »Practices of Art & Justice« – Livestream
School of Resistance Cologne: »Human & Civil Rights in Post-National Times« – Livestream
Interview with Laura Parker – »Trust Without Borders«
Between Land and Sea Festival Palermo 2021: Seema Syeda on »The Palermo Declaration: Avoiding Climate Catastrophe«
Between Land and Sea Festival Palermo 2021: Cheikh Sené, Lina Issa, Yvan Sagnet & Diletta Bellotti on »A Space to Hold«
Between Land and Sea Festival Palermo 2021 – Trailer
Resources
Read more about the outputs we created during our participatory action research project across the borders of Germany, Italy, and Poland.
»Democracy Without Politics in EU Citizen Participation – From European Demoi to Decolonial Multitude«
»The Democratic Art of Public Protest« – A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create an Instant Theatre Action
»We All Struggle With Resolving Group Conflicts« – A Group Exercise
»Political Agency in Times of Border-Crossing Challenges« – A Field Trip Report from the Margins of Europe
»There Is No Such Thing as Regressive Empowerment« – A Praxis Reflection on How to Get Out of the Emotional Dilemmas of Discrimination and Emancipation«
»From Here« – A Film about Narrating Hope in a Climate of Hostility Towards Immigrants
»Laws to serve society, not society to serve laws« – A Case Study About the Deutsche Wohnen & Co. Enteignen Campaign & the Need to Reframe the Question of the Migrant Suffrage
»The Value of the 1:1-Conversation« – A Guide to One of the Organizing Essentials
»The Organizing-Mobilizing Dilemma« – An Activist Essay
»Identity, Allyship & Difference« – A Spadework Podcast
»Decolonising Europe« – Booklet
»Unlearning Schooling« – A Practical Guide to Growing Awareness of Our Socialisation in School and How It Lives on in Us
»Countering Hate Speech and Far-Right Radicalism in Europe!« – An Online Course
»Palermo Declaration« – Avoiding Climate Catastrophe
»How to Build Trust & Solidarity Beyond the Nation State in Europe: Insights & Best Practices« – Research Report
»The Dramaturgy of Transnational Assemblies« – A Critical Manual Based on the 'General Assembly' by IIPM/Milo Rau
»Know Your Rights Workshops as a Strategic Tool for Community Outreach & Coalition Building« – A Beginner’s Guide
»The Circle of Trust« – A Step-by-Step Manual for Facilitators on How to Build Mutual Trust & Strong Relationships
»We All Struggle With Living Up to Our Values« – A Group Exercise
»We All Struggle With Sharing Our Personal Stories« – A Group Exercise
»Public Narrative« – A Guide on How to Tell an Inspiring Political Story Moving People to Take Action
»We All Struggle with Creating Welcoming Spaces« – A Group Exercise
»Es braucht hier eigentlich jede einzelne Person« – Interview
»Das NSU-Dokumentationszentrum als Versammlungsort der Gesellschaft der Vielen« – Interview
»Organizing bedeutet, mit Menschen zu sprechen und sie ernst zu nehmen« – Interview
»Retelling oder: Zuhören und Erzählen als politische Bildungspraxis« – Interview
»Vietnamesische Vertragsarbeiter:innen-Geschichten aus Chemnitz, die nicht auf der Bühne enden« – Interview
»The Historic Day When European Leaders Have Found a Disgraceful New Meaning for Solidarity« – Our Statement on the Decision about the 'Common European Asylum System'
»Lustmachen auf Mut und Veränderung« – Interview
»Pride« – A Film about a Joint Struggle of Lesbians, Gays and Coal Miners that Demonstrated that Solidarity
»Films Based on True Events as a Political Learning Resource« – A Participatory Movie Screening Manual
»How to Change the System« – A Strategy Guide
»United We Stand, Divided We Fall« – Some Lessons Learnt from the Women's Strike in Poland
»Cut Through the Flesh of Politics Down to the Human Bone« – Some Lessons Learnt from the Peace Movement
»Cologne Declaration« – For a Politics of Justice and Humanity
»We’re Almost at the End« – A Praxis Reflection on How to Support the Revolution in Belarus
»Engaging with Europe« – Some Lessons for Transnational Activists Based on a Research Report on 'Insurgent Europeanism'
»The Revolutionary Power of Ordinary Citizens« – A Call for Citizen Assemblies in the Face of the Climate Crisis
»The Enemy is Not Each Other» – A Praxis Reflection on Do's and Don'ts for Deep Relationship Building
»Why Intersectional Organizing Matters« – Some Lessons Learnt for Political Futures from the Margins
»The Radical Transformation of Search & Rescue Activism« – An Insider Retrospective
»Transnational Solidarity at Times of Crisis«
»Berlin Declaration« – In Defense of the Migration Society
»Participation as the Vital Energy of Democracy» – A Call for a Reform of Democratic Tools in the EU
»How We Went on Wildcat Strike and Made History« – An Insider Retrospective about a Recent Struggle of Delivery Riders
