Affects and Solidarity Work in the Aftermath of the Beirut Port Explosion

Most studies on disasters and crises focus on immediate relief, framing post-disaster organizing primarily as a response geared toward physical reconstruction. Less attention is given to the long-term, affective recovery of communities. In this study, I investigate the affective recovery of communities devastated by the Beirut port explosion in 2020, focusing on the role of solidarity in this process. Drawing on ethnographic work conducted from February 2021 to September 2023, I explore post-disaster organizing efforts in Lebanon and how affective solidarity shaped the emotional healing of those affected.

This study adopts an iterative interpretive and affective analytical approach to analyze interviews, fieldnotes, and secondary data, uncovering how emotions like anger, guilt, and shared suffering acted as affective triggers, mobilizing individuals into solidarity initiatives. Through the analysis, I propose a process model that outlines three trajectories: (1) affective triggers, (2) solidarity engagement, and (3) healing pathways. This model illustrates how negative affects were processed and transformed through collective action, fostering a sense of shared purpose and emotional recovery. Ultimately, the study reveals how solidarity contributed to the redirection of affective energies, gradually leading to a new social arrangement centered on solidarity and a return to affective stability.

By highlighting the long-term affective dimensions of post-disaster organizing, this research offers new insights into the transformative potential of affective solidarity, shedding light on its role in both individual and collective healing.