Archive
This section provides a detailed summary of the project’s achievements to date.
Recap: 1st International Solidarity Research Conference
23–24 October 2025 | University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Social Work FHNW, Olten (Switzerland) & Online
The inaugural International Solidarity Research Conference (ISRC) brought together scholars and practitioners from across disciplines to examine “Relational Solidarity and Interdisciplinary Perspectives” from many countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Canada, the USA, Ukraine, Romania, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Israel. Organized by the Solidarity Research Network (SRN), the event fostered dialogue on how solidarity is enacted, negotiated, and challenged in multiple contexts, especially in contexts of war, crisis and conflict.
Keynote contributions by Sally Scholz, Daniel Muia, Sui Ting Kong and Harald Bauder offered critical insights into the ethical, cultural, and political dimensions of solidarity — from the distribution of risk and indigenous community practices to feminist perspectives and urban migrant inclusion.
Parallel workshop sessions showcased current empirical and theoretical work addressing solidarity in education, migration, social movements, and everyday life. Discussions emphasized the relational and situated nature of solidarity, its ambivalent role in sustaining or contesting inequality, and the need for reflexive, practice-oriented research that bridges academia and social engagement.
The conference concluded with a poster session and networking social event, strengthening the international research community around solidarity studies and paving the way for future collaborative projects within the SRN.
Events
2025 June, 11 – 13
25th International Migration Conference, Focus Solidarity
The 25th International Migration Conference has taken place from 11 to 13 June 2025 at the FHNW School of Social Work in Olten, Switzerland. The conference focused on the topics of ‘Solidarity’ and ‘Current social challenges in the context of migration’ and ’Sustainable Global Social Work and Education’.
2025 March, 12
ESWRA Special Interest Group (SIG) Workshop ‘Solidarity Research and Social Work’
The first SIG workshop, ‘Solidarity, Research and Social Work’, took place on 12 March during the 14th European Conference on Social Work Research. The focus was on ‘Embracing democracy in social work practice and research’.
Participants from Germany, Ukraine, Great Britain, Israel and Switzerland gave lectures on different approaches to solidarity and social work. These included ‘Relational Solidarity and Social Work’, ‘Complexity Theory, Solidarity and Social Work’, ‘Minorities, Solidarity and Social Work’ and ‘Solidarity and Social Work in Times of War’. We also discussed the future of SIG and plan to publish a special issue including contributions from the workshop.
