Rethinking Prosocial Activism In Contemporary Mobilisations

In recent years, grassroots mobilisations have increasingly responded to the shortcomings of institutional governance and the exclusion experienced by vulnerable and marginalised groups. Consequently, protest has expanded beyond conventional claims-making to encompass practices of care, assistance, and solidarity, giving rise to forms of prosocial activism. This shift towards politico-humanitarian practice can be understood through the concepts of repair, recognition, and dignity: prosocial activism can foster relationships of recognition through which it challenges exclusion, restores social and political agency, and promotes dignity among those affected by injustice and inequality, such as undocumented migrants and populations affected by armed conflict.

These developments invite a reconsideration of activist networks through the lens of solidarity. In this perspective, collective identity is understood as a continuously renegotiated process and may be linked to the notion of reflexive solidarity, which emerges through the recognition of difference and the ongoing dialogue among participants in collective action. From this perspective, individuals and communities involved in solidarity initiatives actively reshape the goals, strategies, and claims of activist networks rather than remaining passive recipients of support.

This panel welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions, with particular attention to prosocial activism, solidarity as a process of grassroots repair, the role of recognition and dignity in collective action, and the ways in which participatory practices reshape activist networks and contribute to emerging forms of humanitarian and civic engagement.